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EDITORS' PICK

USB-to-FPGA Communications: A Case Study of the ChipWhisperer-Lite

Sending data from a computer to an FPGA is often required. This might be FPGA configuration data, register settings, or streaming data. An easy solution is to use a USB-connected microcontroller instead of a dedicated interface chip, which allows you to offload certain tasks into the microcontroller. In Circuit Cellar 299 (June 2015), Colin O'Flynn writes:

Photo 1: The ChipWhisperer-Lite contains a Xilinx Spartan 6 LX9 FPGA and Atmel SAM3U2C microcontroller.

Often your FPGA-based project will require computer communication and some housekeeping tasks. A popular solution is the use of a dedicated USB interface chip, and a soft-core processor in the FPGA for housekeeping tasks.

For an open-source hardware project I recently launched, I decided to use an external USB microcontroller instead of a dedicated interface chip. I suspect you'll find a lot of useful design tidbits you can use for yourself-and, because it's open source, getting details of my designs doesn't involve industrial espionage!

The design is called the ChipWhisperer-Lite (see Photo 1). This device is a training aid for learning about side-channel power analysis of cryptographic implementations. Side-channel power analysis uses measurements of small power variations during execution of the cryptographic algorithms to break the implementation of the algorithm. Continue Reading

INDUSTRY NEWS

SimpleLink Simplifies IoT Prototyping

Texas Instruments recently introduced the next-generation SimpleLink SensorTag development kit, which enables the fast integration of sensor data with wireless cloud connectivity. Features of the new SensorTags include: Flexible development with wireless connectivity options including Bluetooth low energy, 6LoWPAN and ZigBee ... Continue reading →...�

IAR Systems Celebrates 10,000 Supported Devices

IAR Systems is proud to announce that its complete C/C++ development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench now supports more than 10,000 devices, from all major microprocessor vendors. This unparalleled wide support puts IAR Embedded Workbench in a class of its own, ... Continue reading →...�

Compact 20-A Power Module

Exar Corp. recently announced the XR79120, a 20-A single output, synchronous step-down power module in a compact, 12 mm x 14 mm x 4 mm footprint. Even though it's small, the XR79120 offers more than 93% peak efficiency and leverages ... Continue reading →...�

GuruCE and Lauterbach Establish Official Partnership

Lauterbach and GuruCE-which manufactures high-quality Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact BSPs-recently announced an official partnership. The experts at GuruCE and Lauterbach already have a long working relationship that is now brought to an even higher level of cooperation. Lauterbach's debugging expertise ... Continue reading →...�

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Sponsored by NetBurner, Administered by Circuit Cellar

Spot the schematic error for a chance to win! Put your technical skills to test. The June Electrical Engineering Challenge (sponsored by NetBurner) is now live.

Find the error in the schematic and submit your answer via the online Submission Form

THE CHALLENGE

Find the error in the schematic provided on the EE Challenge webpage. Submit your answer via the online submission form by the deadline of June 20, 2015 (2 PM EST).

PRIZES

Circuit Cellar will randomly select 2 prize winners from the pool of respondents who submit the correct answer. One person will receive a NetBurner MOD54415 LC Development Kit ($129 value). A second person will receive a Circuit Cellar Digital Subscription (1 year).

Rules, Terms, & Conditions

CURRENT ISSUE

Circuit Cellar #299

June 2015

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Circuit Cellar is a media company that serves the international embedded design community with its products and services. As a reliable content provider for professional engineers and programmers, Circuit Cellar publishes Circuit Cellar magazine, engineering/programming-related books, a website, and a newsletter. Circuit Cellar also manages international design challenges relating to embedded design and programming.