The instant-on, easy to use MachXO programmable logic device (PLD) family provides users the benefits of increased system integration by offering embedded memory, built-in PLLs, high performance LVDS I/O, remote field upgrade (TransFR technology) and a low power sleep mode, all in a single device. The new MachXO PLD family is used in various end markets like consumer, automotive, communications, computing, industrial and medical. In fact, shipments of the MachXO PLD family recently surpassed 15 million units in just over three years.

MachXO PLDs fit perfectly in our wireless guitar systems, as they deliver the best mix of features coupled with ease of use and flexibility at an attractive price, said Guy Coker, principal wireless developer at Line 6, Inc. The introduction of new reference designs and a low cost development kit provides us with a complete and easy-to-use platform for implementing control and interface bridging functions in our designs.

Customers increasingly demand that we further accelerate their development time. The new reference designs, which include I2C to Wishbone, SPI to Wishbone, and UART interfaces as well as SD Flash memory, Compact Flash and LPC controllers, were chosen to meet our customers’ requirements for low density applications, said Chris Fanning, Lattice corporate vice president and general manger of Low Density and Mixed Signal Solutions. These new reference designs, along with the value priced $59 MachXO Mini Development Kit, will enable designers to jump start their designs quickly and effectively.

The MachXO Mini Development Kit:

The MachXO Mini Development Kit features the MachXO LCMXO2280 device, 1Mb SPI Flash and 1Mb SRAM memory, a temperature sensor, an expansion header for I2C and SPI interfaces, and several LEDs and user switches. Using the preloaded designs provided with the development kit, designers can now test within minutes I2C, SPI and UART interfaces in addition to the 8-bit LatticeMico8 microcontroller and low power sleep mode functionality. Designers can then build their own designs using the free downloadable reference design source codes, implementing these features in less than an hour.

The mini evaluation board can be powered up and programmed using a standard USB cable. The MachXO Mini Development Kit includes a USB cable for device programming and quickstart documentation.

About MachXO PLDs:

The MachXO family of non-volatile, infinitely reconfigurable PLD devices is designed for applications traditionally implemented using CPLDs or low-capacity FPGAs. Combining an optimized look-up table (LUT) architecture with low-cost embedded Flash process technology, the instant-on, easy to use MachXO devices are the most versatile, non-volatile PLDs for low-density applications. Available in commercial, industrial and automotive grades, the MachXO PLDs offer 256 to 2280 look-up tables (LUTs), up to 271 user I/O and are supported in thin quad flatpack (TQFP), chip-scale BGA (csBGA) and fine-pitch thin BGA (ftBGA) packages from 100 to 324 leads. The MachXO PLDs offer a range of power supply options from 3.3V, 2.5V, 1.8V and 1.2V and can also be run off a single 3.3V core supply.

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation is a US based developer of programmable logic products and related software.