Intel Cyclone 10 LP reference kit accelerates IoT
Distributor Arrow Electronics developed a reference kit based on the low-cost and low-power Intel Cyclone10 LP FPGA family with Trenz Electronic. The Cyclone 10 LP reference kit reduces time to market and development costs by enabling users to start work immediately with an end product-qualified platform, says Arrow.
The kit, which is the first available for this device family, includes a 55kLE Cyclone 10 LP FPGA and a selection of common interfaces and peripherals. It can address a wide range of applications in the industrial, automotive, vision, test and measurement, and consumer sectors.
The FPGA and all peripherals are powered by the cost-optimised Enpirion DC/DC modules.
The board comes with two 10/100 Ethernet PHYs to support normal network connectivity as well as industrial Ethernet protocols. Arrow worked with Softing Industrial Automation to provide an industrial Ethernet implementation for most common real-time protocols, such as Profinet (RT and IRT), EtherNet/IP and EtherCAT. Modbus TCP is also supported. All protocols are integrated using Softing’s modular subsystem architecture with its uniform software interface that allows for easy integration and exchange of the supported protocols.
Data storage, transfer and modifications can be achieved with a variety of memories on the board, including 64Mbit HyperRAM, 256Mbit SDRAM and 64Mbit flash.
There are six PMOD connectors and an Arduino header to allow expansion and adapt other boards with sensors and additional interfaces. A display output is available with a VGA connector and an eight-channel ADC / DAC / GPIO expander for I/O signals.
The Cyclone 10 LP reference kit can be used in universities and other educational establishments. Simple applications can be generated using its LEDs, switches and a seven-segment display. New FPGA engineers can be trained on VHDL basic programming. Arrow will be offering several training labs on the boards to demonstrate interaction with all the interfaces and peripherals.
For programming and debugging of the FPGA, the Arrow USB Programmer2 is implemented together with the Intel Quartus Prime FPGA design software. An integrated UART channel in the USB connection is integrated for data communication between the application and a PC.
A step-by-step starter guide and a complete FPGA software package is available, together with a schematic and bill of materials to investigate the details of the board or as a reference for a new FPGA design.
The Arrow Cyclone 10 LP reference kit supports all development phases, from the first prototype through to direct use in an end product. Customisation of the board is possible, on request, to optimise the design for a specific application. The Arrow Cyclone 10 LP reference kit is available with order number C10LP-REFKIT.
