New Lattice CertusPro-NX FPGAs Offer the Size, Power, and Speed Needed for Edge Applications

By Rich Nass

Executive Vice President

Embedded Computing Design

June 28, 2021

Story

Lower power and higher bandwidth are the key characteristics needed for Edge-based processing. And those are the principles that Lattice’s CertusPro-NX general-purpose FPGA family are built upon. These devices increase the logic density over what was previously offered to up to 100k logic cells.

As the fourth device family based on the company’s Nexus platform, CertusPro-NX adds small form factor (81 mm2) and support for LPDDR4 external memory to its impressive list of features. Most of the competitive devices can offer some, but not all, of these features.

Target applications include data co-processing in intelligent systems, high-bandwidth signal bridging in 5G communications infrastructure, and sensor interface bridging in ADAS systems. More broadly, the applications covered include automotive, industrial, and communications.

The FPGAs’ power efficiency stems from the use of a low power FD-SOI manufacturing process combined with some innovations made in the FPGA fabric architecture. With support for up to eight programmable SERDES lanes capable of speeds up to 10.3 Gbits/s, CertusPro-NX FPGAs deliver the system bandwidth to enable popular communication and display interfaces like 10 Gigabit Ethernet, PCI Express, SLVS-EC, CoaXPress, and DisplayPort.

CertusPro-NX, which is currently sampling, is compatible with the latest version of the Lattice Radiant design software.
 

Richard Nass’ key responsibilities include setting the direction for all aspects of OSM’s ECD portfolio, including digital, print, and live events. Previously, Nass was the Brand Director for Design News. Prior, he led the content team for UBM’s Medical Devices Group, and all custom properties and events. Nass has been in the engineering OEM industry for more than 30 years. In prior stints, he led the Content Team at EE Times, Embedded.com, and TechOnLine. Nass holds a BSEE degree from NJIT.

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