The Opal Kelly XEM6110 is a new integration module based on a Xilinx Spartan-6 (XC6SLX45) FPGA. In addition to a high gate-count FPGA, the XEM6110 utilizes the blazing transfer rate of PCI Express for configuration downloads, enabling an almost instant reprogramming of the FPGA, without shutting down the computer.

FrontPanel Application and SDK

Opal Kelly's FrontPanel software interface is an easy-to-use, robust API for communication, configuration, and interfacing to your PC. FrontPanel handles all the interaction between your software and the FPGA internals, dramatically reducing the time and effort required to interface to a design.

XEM3010 / XEM3050 Footprint Compatible

The Opal Kelly XEM3010 has been incredibly popular, but our customers wanted more. The XEM6110 is designed to be compatible with the XEM3010 expansion connectors in most applications, providing an easy migration path to access this more powerful module and higher transfer rates.

Prototyping and OEM Integration

The XEM6110 is ideally suited for product prototyping and integration into OEM devices where an external (cabled) PCI Express interface, flexible hardware solution, or PC software interface would be useful. The XEM6110 can easily be added to a new board design to provide turnkey PCI Express integration with the convenience of Opal Kelly's software programmer's interface and existing PCI drivers.

Important Product Change Notice

Please read this important product change notice if you purchased an XEM6110 prior to April 16, 2012.

System Illustration

Applications

Image or video capture / processing Data acquisition Digital communications ASIC / hardware-based simulation and verification

High-speed FPGA co-processor Evaluation platform for your product Custom test equipment

Block Diagram

External PCI Express The XEM6110 is free from the confines of a desktop PC. Data blazes at speeds of 150 - 200 MB/s over PCI Express cabling. Configuration without Reboot The XEM6110 utilizes an independent PCI Express interface allowing the FPGA to be reconfigured without rebooting the host PC. This dramatically accelerates development by reducing design cycle time.

128 MiB SDRAM 1 Gib of 16-bit wide DDR2 memory directly connected to the FPGA. Spartan-6 contains hard-core memory controllers to make interfacing simple and reliable. High-Efficiency Power The XEM6110 is powered by three high-efficiency switching power supplies to reduce your design burden and guarantee clean, stable power to the FPGA and memory.

Features & Specifications

• Xilinx Spartan-6 (XC6SLX45-2FGG484C) -- ISE WebPack device
• High-speed, external x1 PCI Express interface. See our PCI1001 Host Interface Board.
• 128-MByte DDR2 SDRAM (Micron MT47H64M16HR-3)
• Small form-factor -- smaller than a credit card at 75mm x 50mm x 15.9mm (2.95" x 1.97" x 0.63")
• Self-powered by external DC source
• Eight LEDs
• Two 80-pin 0.8mm Samtec board-to-board connectors (BSE-040)
• Over 120 user I/O, including several GCLK pins on expansion connectors
• Independent access to two VCCO bank voltages
• FPGA JTAG pins available on the expansion connectors
• Full FrontPanel virtual control panel support
• Driver Support: Windows XP, Vista, 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Complete Application Programmer's Interface (API) in C, C++, C#, Python, and Java

Note: Firmware source code is not included. Of course, full documentation on designing the XEM6110 into your application is included. Please see the Library items on this page.