Engineers are indispensable debugging artifacts for digital power system development - logic analyzer

Oscilloscopes are the most widely used tools in electronic product development. However, with the advancement of microprocessors such as ARM, X86, MIPS, GPUs, and AI processors, along with the rise of smart hardware, logic bugs have become more common. When issues arise in SOC interfaces like SPI, USB, I2C, or UART, an oscilloscope may struggle to keep up. For complex bus signals such as AXI or PCIe, or when dealing with a large number of pins on a chip or board, the limited number of channels on an oscilloscope can be a major constraint. As one engineer put it, “Chen can’t do it.” In such situations, a specialized tool is needed: a logic analyzer. This instrument captures and displays digital signals from a device using a clock signal. Its primary function is timing analysis, which helps engineers understand the logical relationships within a digital system.

Logic analyzers come in two main types: standalone and card-based. Standalone models integrate all the software and processing components into a single unit, while card-type analyzers work with a computer and often have separate displays. The ZeroPlus LAP-F1 is a card-based logic analyzer that uses a Xilinx Kintex-7 160T FPGA, offering 64 channels and a maximum sampling rate of 1G samples per second. It can reach frequencies up to 200MHz and supports a wide range of functions—from signal capture and data storage using DDR3-1600MHz memory, to protocol-based triggering and decoding. The results are displayed graphically, allowing developers to trace and analyze signals according to specific protocols. With the powerful capabilities of the Xilinx Kintex-7 family, this logic analyzer provides low power consumption and high-performance digital signal processing, making it ideal for analyzing modern high-speed signals like PCIe Gen3 and 10Gigabit Ethernet. It also supports testing of signals from flat panel displays and video IP modules. Beyond just debugging, Xilinx FPGAs play a key role in verifying custom chips and optimizing the digital system design process. As the saying goes, “If you can’t do it, then you’re not the one to do it.”

Logic analyzers offer multiple input channels, advanced triggering options, and robust analysis features. They help engineers detect waveform anomalies like noise, interference, and incorrect frequency, perform timing analysis, resolve conflicts, and ensure proper coordination between signals. They are essential for analyzing bus signals and complex protocols, accelerating development, and identifying hidden errors through trigger functions. By improving product reliability, they play a crucial role in modern electronics. To handle such complex tasks, a powerful processing unit is required. That’s where the Xilinx FPGA family shines, delivering cutting-edge solutions for today’s mainstream buses and high-performance interfaces. These tools provide comprehensive, multi-level support for hardware development, ensuring smoother, more efficient project execution.