Xilinx (Xilinx) is the world‘s leading supplier of complete programmable logic solutions. Xilinx develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of advanced integrated circuits, software design tools and IP (Intellectual Property) cores as predefined system-level functions. Regarding the discussion on the topic of "what is xilinx chip and what is the use of xilinx chip", a detailed introduction will be given below.

1. What kind of chip is xilinx?

Xilinx is a programmable chip manufactured by Xilinx suppliers. Its mainstream FPGAs are divided into two categories. One focuses on low-cost applications, with medium capacity and performance that can meet general logic design requirements, such as the Spartan series. Another type focuses on high-performance applications, with large capacity and performance that can meet various high-end applications, such as the Virtex series. Users can choose according to their actual application requirements. In the case where the performance can be satisfied, low-cost devices are preferred.

The current mainstream chips of the Spartan series include: Spartan-2, Spartan-2E, Spartan-3, Spartan-3A, Spartan-3E, Spartan-6 and other types. Spartan-2 up to 200,000 system gates, Spartan-2E up to 600,000 system gates, and Spartan-3 up to 5 million gates. Spartan-3A and Spartan-3E not only have a larger number of system gates, but also enhance a large number of embedded dedicated multipliers and dedicated block RAM resources, and have the ability to realize complex digital signal processing and on-chip programmable systems.

The FPGA of the Spartan-6 series is a new generation of FPGA chips launched by Xilinx in 2009. This series of chips has low power consumption and large capacity Spartan-3/3L. A new generation of FPGA products, the structure is similar to VirtexII, the world‘s first 90nm process FPGA, 1.2v core, launched in 2003.

2. What is the use of xilinx chip?

Medical uses of xilinx chips: ultrasound medical imaging, PET medical imaging, diagnostic and clinical endoscopic processing, clinical defibrillators, robotic-assisted surgical instruments, multi-parameter patient monitors and electrocardiogram detectors.

Other medical device vehicles: autonomous driving, motor control, automotive safety, quality/reliability, functional safety, in-vehicle infotainment system broadcasting;

Professional a/v: Cameras, Routers/Switches, Codecs/Decoders, Video Conferencing, Displays and Signage, Servers and Storage, Switches, Video Processing Cards, Audio Systems, Transmitters and Modulators, Projection Systems.

Consumer Electronics: Ultra High Definition (4k) TV, Multifunction Printers Industrial: Robotics, Trains and Railroad Tracks, Computer Vision, Video Surveillance, 3D Printing, Smart Grid.

Simulation and Prototyping: ASIC Simulation Implementation, FPGA-Based Prototyping Test and Measurement: Semiconductor ATE, Quality/Reliability, Limited Tester and Wireless, T/M Instrumentation.

3. Development software of xilinx chip

ISE: Xilinx‘s integrated development tools* Foundation: Xilinx‘s early development tools, gradually replaced by ISE;

ISE Webpack: Webpack is a free development software provided by xilinx, with fewer functions than ISE, and can be downloaded from the xilinx website;

Embedded Development Kit (EDK): Tools for developing integrated PowerPC hard and MicroBlaze soft CPUs;

System Generator for DSP: a tool to complete digital signal processing in FPGA with Matlab;

Xilinx IP Core: Xilinx has a very complete IP library.