The Xilinx Artix-7 field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a low-cost, low-power programmable logic device built on a 28nm high-performance, low-power (HPL) fabrication process. The Artix-7 combines cost-optimized programmable logic fabric along with integrated functional blocks to address compute-intensive applications with rigorous cost and power constraints like embedded vision, motor control, software defined radio, and functional safety systems.

This article provides a comprehensive technical overview of the Artix-7 architecture, available features, design considerations, target applications and key benefits for system designers.

Introduction to Xilinx Artix-7 FPGAs

The Artix-7 represents Xilinx’s low-cost FPGA offering within its overall product portfolio. Key aspects include:

• High density programmable logic fabric for flexible implementation of digital systems
• Integrated hardcore functional blocks – DSP slices, block RAM, transceivers
• High-performance interfacing – memory controllers, PCI Express, Ethernet
• Low power 28HPL process optimized for embedded applications
• Small form factor packaging – FPGA and SoC configurations
• Mature Vivado Design Suite for development and debug

Artix-7 devices achieve optimal balance between capabilities, power efficiency and costs for high volume embedded applications requiring programmable logic resources in the 50K to 350K logic cell range.

Artix-7 FPGA Family Overview

The Artix-7 family provides a range of devices with different sizes and capabilities to match diverse application needs:

Programmable Logic Density

• Small – Up to 75K logic cells
• Medium – 140K to 270K logic cells
• Large – Over 300K logic cells

Transceiver Speeds

• GTH – 3.75Gbps to 12.5Gbps
• GTX – Up to 28.05Gbps

On-chip Memory

• Up to 12.8Mb of block RAM
• Up to 3.1Gbps external DDR3 memory interfaces

Packages

• CSP – Chip scale packages for space constrained designs
• FBGA – Flip-chip fine pitch BGA packages
• SBGA – Low cost small form factor packages

Power consumption is optimized down to the 1-2W range making Artix-7 ideal for embedded applications. Larger density options integrate ample hardened blocks for interfacing, signal processing and data movement.

Artix-7 FPGA Architecture

The Artix-7 architecture is optimized to deliver cost-efficient programmable logic capability along with essential integrated peripherals.

Programmable Logic Fabric

The core of the architecture consists of flexible, high-performance programmable logic implemented using 6-input LUTs:

• The basic logic cell is a 6-input LUT which can also be fractured into two 5-input LUTs
• 4 LUTs and 8 flip-flops grouped into a slice for efficient packing
• Fast interconnect and abundant local routing for building complex datapaths
• 36Kb Block RAM for on-chip data storage

Integrated Blocks

Key hardened functional blocks to accelerate system processing:

Transceivers

• Up to 16 GTH transceivers operating up to 12.5Gbps
• Implements protocols including PCIe, Ethernet, CPRI, USB

DSP Slices

• Up to 400 DSP slices, each performing arithmetic operations
• Optimized for math-intensive DSP and analytics workloads

PCI Express

• Two 32-bit PCIe Gen2 interfaces up to 5Gbps

Memory Interfaces

• DDR3/3L SDRAM controllers at up to 1866Mbps

I/O

The Artix-7 I/O capabilities support interfacing wide range of on-board peripherals and signals:

• High speed differential I/O like LVDS for sensors and video
• Single-ended standards – LVCMOS, LVTTL
• SSTL and HSTL for external memories
• Digitally adjustable I/O drive strength and slew rates
• Termination resistors for memory interfaces

Artix-7 Benefits for Hardware Designers

For embedded systems engineers, the Artix-7 architecture delivers several compelling benefits:

High Performance

• 6-input LUTs reduce LUT count by 20% vs 4-input LUTs improving density
• Integrated DSP blocks, transceivers and memory accelerate processing
• 28Gbps transceivers support high-throughput serial interfacing

Low Power

• Small 28nm geometry results in very low static and dynamic power
• Intelligent clock gating removes power from inactive regions
• Power optimization across device, software and PCB design

Cost

• Mature 28nm process provides cost-efficient manufacturing
• Integrated blocks reduce external logic and interface components

Ease of Use

• Vivado productivity enhancing IP and system integration tools
• MicroBlaze soft-core eases C/C++ software programming

For embedded systems with rigorous cost targets, Artix-7 enables optimized implementation of compute-intensive parallel workloads.

Artix-7 Design Methodology

Designing hardware systems using the Artix-7 FPGA involves:

1. Design Creation – Developing the desired functionality using schematics, VHDL or Verilog
2. Simulation – Simulating the design pre-implementation to verify correctness
3. Synthesis – Synthesizing HDL code into optimized logic representations
4. Implementation – Translating synthesized design into physical FPGA resources
5. Verification – Ensuring functionality, timing and power goals are achieved
6. Programming – Generating FPGA bitstream file to configure Artix-7 device
7. Debug – On-chip logic analyzer assists in-system debug during integration

Leveraging FPGA’s reconfigurable property enables rapid design iterations to meet requirements.

Artix-7 Target Applications

The Artix-7 capabilities and cost-efficient performance targets a wide spectrum of embedded, industrial and communications applications:

Embedded Vision

• Surveillance systems
• Medical endoscopy
• Machine vision for manufacturing and inspection
• Autonomous robotics

Motor Control

• Industrial servo/motion control
• Robotics
• Motor drives
• Drone/UAV control systems

Functional Safety

• Industrial process monitoring
• Automotive driver assistance systems
• Railway signaling systems
• Medical diagnostics

Wireless Communications

• Small cell backhaul processing
• RADAR and LiDAR signal processing
• Software defined radio
• Wireless infrastructure

Scientific Research

• Weather monitoring
• Medical and particle physics experiments
• Satellite payloads
• Radio astronomy

For these use cases with constrained power budgets and device footprints but still requiring high throughput signal/image processing capability, Artix-7 hits the cost-performance-power sweet spot.

Artix-7 vs Kintex-7 FPGA Comparison

It is useful to contrast the Artix-7 family against Xilinx’s higher capability Kintex-7 FPGAs:

Programmable Logic

• Artix-7 offers up to 350K logic cells, while Kintex-7 goes up to 474K logic cells
• Kintex-7 provides higher routing interconnect performance

Transceivers

• Artix-7 supports up to 16 x 12.5Gbps transceivers
• Kintex-7 supports up to 16 x 12.5Gbps transceivers

Memory Interfaces

• Both support similar DDR3 memory controllers with comparable speeds

Power

• Artix-7 optimized for ultra low-power embedded apps
• Kintex-7 suits apps with higher power budgets

Cost

• Artix-7 offers a 40% cost reduction while sacrificing some performance
• Kintex-7 provides higher capability for cost-driven applications

For the ultimate in embedded processing capability, Kintex-7 is indicated. But for applications where ultra low cost and power are mandates, Artix-7 provides the logical solution.

Conclusion

By integrating high density programmable logic fabric with commonly needed functionality like DSP, transceivers and external memory interfaces, Xilinx Artix-7 FPGAs deliver optimized price/performance for embedded vision, motor control, communications and functional safety applications.

For hardware designers challenged to accomplish more with less, Artix-7 provides a compelling solution to accelerate innovation and facilitate transition from concept to deployed edge solution across diverse segments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the key characteristics of the Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA family?

A: The Artix-7 provides cost-optimized programmable logic, integrated processing blocks and high-performance I/O at very low power consumption ideal for embedded applications.

Q: What are some of the target applications for Artix-7 FPGAs?

A: Key application areas include embedded vision, motor control, functional safety systems, wireless communications and scientific research.

Q: How does Artix-7 compare to the higher capability Kintex-7 FPGAs?

A: The Kintex-7 offers 40% more programmable logic capability and higher performance but at greater cost over the Artix-7.

Q: What are the core programmable elements in the Artix-7 architecture?

A: This includes the 6-input LUT fabric, flexible I/O blocks, integrated DSP slices and block RAM, and high-speed serial transceivers.

Q: What design tools can be used to develop with Artix-7 FPGAs?

A: Xilinx’s mature Vivado Design Suite supports the full design flow from RTL design creation to bitstream generation and debug.