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LatticeNEWS June 2009

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ispLEVER LogoFAQ of the Month

Q: What new improvements can I expect to see in the next release of the ispLEVER design tool (ispLEVER 7.2 SP2)?  

A:  ispLEVER 7.2 SP2 is an important service pack for LatticeECP3 users. It also has support for an additional package for the MachXO family and two LA-LatticeXP2 automotive devices, the XP2-5E and XP2-8E in the 132csBGA package.

LatticeECP3 Feature Summary in ispLEVER 7.2 SP2:

  • Improved accuracy of static timing analysis to match the production LatticeECP3-70/95 silicon and power estimation.
  • LatticeECP3-70/95 production silicon based PCS/SERDES calibration settings.
  • Additional configurations for DSP functions which provide higher performance and improved support for user-defined cascade chains.
  • Bit file created is forward-compatible with future silicon releases.

Importance of Migrating Your ECP3 Designs to ispLEVER 7.2 SP2:

  • This will update your LatticeECP3-70/95 design to the production silicon status for timing and power reported in the tools.
  • Update the PCS/SERDES setting and performance to production silicon status.
  • The SP2-generated bit file will be forward-compatible with future LatticeECP3 silicon.

How to Migrate LatticeECP3 Designs Created in Previous ispLEVER Releases.

  • Archive your current design.
  • When a project which has been created in a release previous to ispLEVER 7.2 SP2 is opened, there will be a dialog box which informs you that this design must be recompiled.  Recompiling will create new design files. Avoid using older design files which are no longer compatible with ispLEVER 7.2 SP2 tools.
  • The process will automatically reset back to the Synthesis step. The user initiates the actual recompilation processing (e.g. starting the Place & Route process will start the Synthesis, MAP and PAR processing).
  • It may be necessary to also regenerate some modules or IP which have been used in the design to successfully recompile. This is specific to DDR interfaces.
  • It is highly recommended that all modules or IP which use DDR or PCS/SERDES be re-generated under ispLEVER 7.2 SP2.