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Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) is introducing an advanced Converter Evaluation and Development (CED) toolkit that is the industry’s first to combine data converter evaluation technology with a robust end-product development environment. The toolkit, which features a user-programmable, industry-standard FPGA-based development environment and data converter software drivers, accelerates product development schedules by helping system engineers quickly and easily integrate converters into the end system.

“The ability to quickly move from component selection to product design dramatically improves time-to-market,” said Mike Byrne, marketing and applications manager, Precision Data Converters, Analog Devices. “ADI’s CED toolkit, the only tool with the hardware and software required to demonstrate converter performance in a real development environment, accomplishes this feat. Moreover, the toolkit uses the same hardware for both evaluation and development, eliminating thousands of dollars in unnecessary software and equipment that would otherwise be required for performance analysis, programming and code development.”

The CED toolkit's evaluation component includes all elements needed for direct communication between the converter and PC over a USB link. The accompanying software provides a suite of analysis routines that lets designers quickly compare converter speed and throughput rates against user-defined performance criteria. An intuitive set-up guide then allows design engineers to control and programme the converter while streaming data directly to the PC display.

With variety of interface ports, including SPI, SPORT, parallel and LVDS, the toolkit supports a range of serial and parallel precision converter evaluation boards in different form factors.

The CED toolkit’s development environment includes a hardware platform and converter software drivers that together allow designers to link function blocks and quickly render complete system-level concepts. The time-saving development toolkit, as claimed by the company, consists of a reconfigurable FPGA-based platform that can be reprogrammed via the USB connection using supplied Verilog code. Users can then develop and run customized code to precisely match the converters to their design environment while performing specific system-level design tasks.

The toolkit connects directly to Analog Devices’ Blackfin EZ-Kit, allowing designers to utilize provided software drivers to generate DSP code for their system application. With appropriate hardware, any DSP or processor can be connected to the tool, providing a means to develop combined FPGA- and processor-based systems. Additionally, National Instruments’ LabVIEW-based evaluation software for precision converters is included in the development platform, giving system engineers access to both ac and dc converter performance specifications.

"ADI's CED toolkit has a large, 36-Mbyte memory capacity and a simple setup for fast, accurate converter evaluation," added Byrne.

The CED toolkit, which includes an evaluation board, USB A-to-mini-B cable, and a 7.5-V power supply, is available now for USD 500.