Background

Xilinx is the first programmable logic company to embrace the concept of cores for FPGAs with the LogiCORE^TM PCI Interface. Today, LogiCORE products form the most successful core program in the programmable logic industry. As a result, Xilinx has gained considerable experience developing and selling cores, and servicing FPGA core customers. Through the AllianceCORE^TM program, Xilinx is expanding the availability of quality cores for programmable logic by sharing what has been learned with leading third-party core developers. 

The AllianceCORE program is a cooperative effort between Xilinx and independent third-party core developers. It is designed to produce a broad selection of industry-standard solutions dedicated for use in Xilinx programmable logic.

Xilinx takes an active role with its partners in the process of productizing AllianceCORE products. This is unique to the AllianceCORE program. Because the process is so involved, we work closely with our partners to select the right cores first which helps raise the quality and usability of the cores that are offered. 

AllianceCORE Product Criteria

A core must meet a minimum set of criteria before it can receive the AllianceCORE label.

Core Selection

Xilinx looks at cores from a practical point of view. A programmable logic version of a core must have value over an ASIC or standard product version of the same function. It must be cost effective and make sense for use in a programmable device in a production system. If a candidate core does not pass these simple tests, it does not make sense to invest the effort to convert it to an AllianceCORE product.

Generic, synthesizable cores offer maximum flexibility for users with unique requirements. This is typically the format for cores provided to the ASIC market. With programmable logic, however, this flexibility can come at the expense of efficiency and performance. It can take considerable effort to get a core to synthesize in a way that meets density and timing requirements in a programmable device. Time spent trying to accomplish this quickly reduces the time-to-market advantage of using programmable logic and cores in the first place.

As a result, Xilinx does not promote generic, synthesizable cores as AllianceCORE products. Instead, they are generally provided as black-boxes. This guarantees that the implementation is optimized for density while still meeting performance, preserving the time-to-market value of programmable logic. Flexibility is provided by allowing you to quickly implement your unique logic on the same device. Partners may provide cores customized to meet your specific design needs. Source code versions of the cores are often available from the partners at additional cost for those who need ultimate flexibility.

Core Qualification

Xilinx and the AllianceCORE partners have come up with a minimum set of deliverables that will make integration of a core into your design extremely simple. While most products come with a lot of other information and files, every product is delivered with at least the following:

• Xilinx specific design netlists (.edif, .xnf or .ngd)
• Constraints files (timing and placement as required)
• VHDL and Verilog instantiation templates
• Xilinx tool command file
• Back-annotated files for timing simulation
• Documentation in the form of User/Specification guide, and AllianceCORE datasheet.

All cores are passed through Xilinx tools to arrive at a completely placed and routed design and a downloadable bit stream. For cores with timing requirements, constraints files are provided to the Xilinx tools along with netlists in order to guarantee performance. After place and route, the cores are simulated and verified by the partners to meet all the specifications of a given core. All products are available immediately for purchase in a Xilinx netlist format that is usable in both Xilinx Alliance and Foundation series development software. Source code version of AllianceCORE products are also available from the partner at an additional cost.

In addition to checking tool flow, we work with the partners to ensure clean design practices subject to the coreâs specifications and requirements. These include usage of specific architectural features to an advantage, avoiding gated clocks, keeping number of clocks to a minimum, keeping designs synchronous, etc.

Core Integration

AllianceCORE products are not just cores. They are complete solutions for system designs. While cores by themselves have value, in many cases it is often not enough to just supply the core. You need tools such as system software and prototyping boards to help you a) rapidly integrate the core into your design, b) perform system debug in a real-world environment, and c) quickly convert the prototype to a production unit. This is particularly true of complex functions.

Acquiring AllianceCORE Products

AllianceCORE products are sold and serviced directly by the AllianceCORE partners since they are the experts for their particular products. They are responsible for pricing, licensing terms, delivery, and technical support. Contact information for each partner is included in the partner profiles on this website.

For additional information about the AllianceCORE program, or if you are interested in becoming a partner, send email to: alliancecore@xilinx.com.