Lattice LFE3-95EA-6FN672I: A High-Performance FPGA for Advanced Embedded System Design
The increasing complexity of modern embedded systems demands hardware platforms that offer not only high computational performance but also power efficiency, design flexibility, and robust connectivity. In this domain, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have become indispensable. Among them, the Lattice LFE3-95EA-6FN672I, a member of the Lattice ECP3™ family, stands out as a premier solution engineered for advanced, high-performance embedded applications.
At the core of the LFE3-95EA-6FN672I's appeal is its high-performance FPGA fabric. Built on a low-power, 65nm process technology, this device strikes an optimal balance between processing capability and energy consumption. It features 95K Look-Up Tables (LUTs), providing ample logic density to implement complex algorithms, control logic, and custom processor cores. This makes it exceptionally suitable for compute-intensive tasks such as real-time signal processing, video bridging, and protocol conversion.
Connectivity is a cornerstone of modern embedded design, and this FPGA excels in this regard. It is equipped with a rich set of high-speed serial interfaces, including multiple SERDES lanes capable of speeds up to 3.2 Gbps. These support a wide array of common protocols such as PCI Express, Ethernet (1GbE and 10GbE), and Serial RapidIO, enabling seamless communication between processors, sensors, and other peripherals in a system. The device's 672-pin Fine-Pitch BGA (FPBGA) package ensures a high number of user I/Os, facilitating interfacing with various external devices and memory.
Furthermore, the LFE3-95EA incorporates dedicated hard IP blocks that enhance performance while reducing logic resource utilization and power draw. It includes embedded memory blocks (EBR) totaling over 4.5 Mb, which are crucial for buffering high-speed data streams. Additionally, it features dedicated DSP blocks for efficient multiplication and accumulation operations, accelerating mathematical functions common in digital signal processing (DSP) applications.
For system developers, the programmability of the LFE3-95EA offers unparalleled flexibility. Design iterations and feature updates can be implemented rapidly without the need to respin a board, significantly accelerating time-to-market. This FPGA is supported by Lattice's Diamond® design software, which provides a comprehensive suite of tools for design, synthesis, place-and-route, and verification.
ICGOOODFIND: The Lattice LFE3-95EA-6FN672I emerges as a powerful and versatile FPGA, delivering an ideal combination of high logic density, superior connectivity options, and integrated hard IP. Its low-power architecture and design flexibility make it a superior choice for engineers developing sophisticated embedded systems across telecommunications, industrial automation, aerospace, and advanced consumer electronics.
Keywords: High-Performance FPGA, Embedded System Design, SERDES, Low-Power, ECP3 Family.
