[En-Nut-Discussion] SRAM speed

[matt]

I wouldn't rely on the very proprietary structure of FPSLIC . It is way too
expensive to survive , just a mega128 plus FPGA or CPLD adds up to less
money . IF and when the AVR core and peripherals get changed the changes are
small compared to what would happen to the system architecture if the FPSLIC
goes away so it doesn't look safe .

My company is interested in adopting Ethernut for embedded Ethernet
applications, and we're willing to assist with hardware development . I saw
another company showed a similar interest recently. Maybe we can come up
together with a relatively flexible solution that will benefit all Ethernut
users . We are open to discussion both on the list or private .

IF the Ethernet chip changes, would it be possible to:
-1- select IC's which are made in extended temperature range . Embedded
systems exist in industrial , communications and consumer products. Very few
consumer and a lot more industrial/communications though, so extended temp
makes sense at least as an option. This way even if regular boards were made
with commercial grade chips, extended temp would be possible by using the
same chip in industrial version. Atmel micros come in industrial and
commercial , Realtek doesn't . Crystal 8900a does for example .

-2- if several such Ethernet controllers are contemplated, what about a
dedicated driver for each, selected at compile time ?

-3- attempt to implement some sort of rudimentary DMA scheme going through
the FPGA/CPLD between the external RAM and the Ethernet controller ? This
would speed up transfers and throughput , and most of the time people don't
use up 100% of their FPGA/CPLD so it would come almost free (hardware extra
costs minimal) .

-4- regarding the CPLD/FPGA, we are familiar with the chips and devtools
from Atmel , Alterra, Xilinx, Lattice . They all make in circuit
programmable cpld's , and it would be possible to use a portion of the cpld
for the board address decoding, dma, etc and leave some free for the user .
Give the user the option of loading the programming file either directly
through ISP or JTAG , or through the mega128 itself , in which case it might
be in the form of an include file .

Best Regards,

Matt Tudor , MSEE
http://www.gigahertzelectronics.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Harald Kipp <harald.kipp at egnite.de>
To: en-nut-discussion at egnite.de <en-nut-discussion at egnite.de>
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2002 4:52 AM
Subject: RE: [En-Nut-Discussion] SRAM speed


>
>>Oh yes, and were you planning to have in-system programmable CPLD, to be
>>programmed by the ATmega? Or is that just a silly idea.
>
>Definitely this is _NOT_ a silly idea.
>
>Just in case somebody will now come up with
>FPSlic: Are you sure, that Atmel will continue
>to offer them to the public?
>
>Harald
>
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