March 2009

Lattice Listens

Q: Are there any Lattice PLDs that have enough resources to fit a microprocessor and can still be used in practical applications?  

A:  Yes. Our MachXO PLD can fit the open intellectual property (IP) core LatticeMico8. Typical LatticeMico8 configurations are 200 to 300 LUTs, easily fitting into devices as small as the LCMXO640 (640 LUTs) with enough room left over for other connect/control functionality. The LatticeMico8 uses the MachXO's on-board EBR resources or distributed SRAM for program memory. 

The new MachXO Mini Development Kit includes a LatticeMico8-centered design that comes pre-programmed on a MachXO device. The Mini System-on-Chip (SoC) demo also includes SPI, I²C, SRAM and UART functionality. In the demo, the user communicates with the LatticeMico8 through a PC terminal program (such as Hyperterminal) over a USB cable. 

The MachXO Mini Development Kit

In keeping with the LatticeMico8’s open intellectual property philosophy, the user can download the demo design and change the RTL or the assembly code.  The functional blocks within the design are interconnected via the WISHBONE open source protocol, so the user can also connect other WISHBONE components to the design.

To Learn More

For further information on the LatticeMico8 or the MachXO Mini Development Kit, visit the Lattice website or contact your local Lattice sales representative.