Silicon Explorer

Imagine an integrated desktop suite of diagnostic tools that enables real-time observability of internal programmable logic nodes without affecting the timing, loading, or fanout of a design. Microsemi has made this kind of verification a reality with its Silicon Explorer II, a revolutionary diagnostic and verification tool kit for FPGA design verification.

Silicon Explorer II shortens the FPGA design verification process by providing a tightly integrated suite of tools and capabilities that enable rapid isolation of functional and timing problems—there's no need to re-layout, recompile, or redo any part of your design to complete the verification process. By removing the guesswork associated with trial and error methods of system verification, Silicon Explorer II saves weeks of effort and gives precise control over the verification process.

Once your design has been placed and routed using Microsemi's Designer software FPGA development tools, you can connect Silicon Explorer II and launch the Silicon Explorer software, which graphically displays the internal nets of your design. By a simple point-and-click, you are allowed to simultaneously select and examine up to two internal nodes. With Axcelerator®, you can select four internal nodes. The software displays the logic activity in real time, essentially turning your PC into an 18-channel logic analyzer and allowing you to verify your design node-by-node. To test additional nodes, you simply select them on the displayed list.

Key Features

• Supports all Microsemi antifuse devices
• Dynamic access into internal nodes without design re-layout
• User-friendly graphical user interface for viewing and analysis
• Supports 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5.0 V boards
• PC-hosted, 18-channel logic analyzer with up to 100 MHz asynchronous sampling rate
• Four levels of triggering
• Serial port connection — no plug-in cards
• Free software updates
• Supports Microsoft ® Windows 7/8.1/10 and XP