MegaWizard Plug-Ins Offer Tool-Independent Parameterized Logic Cores

Altera Corporation introduces MegaWizard Plug-Ins, a new line of parameterization tools linked to its industry leading MAX+PLUSR II development software that offer designers flexibility in integrating complex logic cores, or megafunctions, into their designs. MegaWizard Plug-Ins shorten the process of integrating megafunctions into designs by providing a tool-independent means of parameterizing megafunctions.

In the past, when an off-the-shelf megafunction did not exactly meet design requirements, engineers were forced to either pay for a customized version or purchase the source code and modify the function themselves. Parameterization with MegaWizard Plug-Ins solves this problem by allowing engineers to modify megafunctions, without directly changing the source code. Since designs parameterized with MegaWizard Plug-Ins can be used in any design flow, customers can employ these plug-ins to promote internal design-reuse. Third-party megafunction developers also benefit because they can now streamline their development process by providing a single megafunction that can be modified by the customer.

Ease of Use For Developers and Users The MegaWizard Plug-In process consists of three steps. First, the megafunction developer writes a small program defining a graphical user interface (GUI) for a MegaWizard Plug-In. This GUI is platform-and tool-independent, and allows the developer to display the desired parameters and boundary conditions of a specific megafunction. Upon instantiation of this megafunction, the associated MegaWizard Plug-In comes up and captures the designer's desired parameters. During compilation of the design, the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager, which is resident in MAX+PLUS II, interprets and passes those parameters to the megafunction; the synthesis routines within MAX+PLUS II then create the desired functionality.

The MegaWizard Plug-In Manager is resident in the just-released 8.2 version of Altera's MAX+PLUS II development system for PC and workstation platforms. The MAX+PLUS II software offers an architecture-independent development environment that enables engineers to target designs to any of Altera's device families. MegaWizard Plug-Ins are available for the Library of Parameterized Modules (LPM), an industry standard set of configurable functions including arithmetic, memory, counter, and multiplexor functions. Future Plug-Ins are being developed for Altera's entire library of MegaCore(TM) functions, including FFT, PCI, and DSP megafunctions. MAX+PLUS II software provides seamless integration with tools from Cadence, Exemplar, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Synplicity, Viewlogic, and other leading EDA vendors.