SDR-3000 - Spectrum Signal Processing

Benefits

•Ultra high performance wireless processing

engine

•Industry standard form factors allow easy

integration with third party components

•Industry standard software APIs help

preserve your software investment

•Fully re-programmable hardware allows

pure software defined radios to be realized

•Dataflow optimized for software defined

radio

•Designed to meet high availability

requirements

•Modular design addresses multiple software

defined radio applications

•Allows optimal partitioning of algorithms

across FPGAs and signal processors

•Available as Integrated Development

Systems (IDS), for rapid development

Applications

•Military communications (e.g. JTRS)

•Wireless intelligence and surveillance

•Electronic warfare

•Commercial wireless gateways

•Wireless test and measurement

•Wireless prototyping

•Beam forming and Smart Antennas

Features

•CompactPCI®-based architecture

•Combines Xilinx® Virtex-II FPGAs and

PowerPC™ MPC7410 G4s, and optionally

TI TMS320C64X DSPs, in a single system

•Supports IF sampling rates up to 212 MHz

•Supports 2-4 ADC channels and 2-4 DAC

channels per slot

•flexFabric - Serial RapidIO™-based switched

fabric connects all boards with deterministic,

low-latency 320 MB/s data paths

•Supports up to 1000 simultaneous transmit

and receive communication channels per

chassis

•Includes optional SCA core framework

•Supplied with full CORBA support (TAO)

•Supports the VxWorks® RTOS on every

PowerPC node

•Supports Spectrum’s quicComm API for

high-performance interprocessor

communications and board setup/control

•Supports VSI/Pro, a VSIPL-compliant vector

and image processing library optimized to

the PowerPC G4

•Supports quicWave for PowerPC, a powerful

set of wireless application building blocks

Description

SDR-3000 is the latest in Spectrum’s family of flexComm platforms, designed specifically for

the implementation of high-performance and/or high-density software defined radios. SDR-3000

supports hundreds of simultaneous transmit and

receive channels, each with an independent air

interface protocol. Virtually any air interface

can be supported by SDR-3000, making it ideally

suited for defense programs such as software

defined military communications programs,

signals intelligence, as well as commercial

applications including cellular base stations,

spectrum monitoring, test and measurement.

cPCI

SDR-3000 Series

Software Defined Radio

Transceiver Platform

SIGNAL PROCESSING

flexComm SDR-3000

Hardware

The SDR-3000 hardware consists of a series of cPCI-based boards, including:

•PRO-3100: a front-end processing board supporting four user-programmable Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs.

• PRO-3500: a signal processing board supporting two PowerPC G4 processors, up to two additional

G4 or ‘C64X procesors, and/or additional I/O.

• TM1-3300: an analog I/O board supporting four 80 MHz ADCs and four 160 MHz DACs.

•TM1-3350: an analog I/O board supporting two 212 MHz ADCs and two 212 MHz DACs.

•TM1-3902: an I/O reference design and high-performance digital I/O solution.

All boards are designed for use in high availability applications.

In order to achieve optimal dataflows, the following standard interconnects are used:

• All FPGAs and G4 processors are connected via flexFabric, a serial RapidIO-based switched fabric that

allows virtually any dataflow to be achieved when working with high-data rate front-end processing.

•All processing boards (PRO-3100 and PRO-3500) are

connected via a PICMG 2.16 switched Ethernet

backplane, allowing simple network integration,

efficient integration of development tools, and an

efficient data path for lower speed payload data.

• Both the PRO-3100 and PRO-3500 have standard

cPCI interfaces, allowing simple integration with

any third-party cPCI boards, and an efficient control

path that is independent from the data path.

These concepts are illustrated

in Figure 1.

[ PRO-3100 ]

The PRO-3100 is a cPCI board with four user-programmable Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs, and is ideal for very high data

rate front-end processing. These can support:

• Up to 160 narrowband down converter channels of 2 MHz bandwidth or less, or

• Up to 40 wideband channels of 40 MHz or less

The PRO-3100 contains a user-programmable embedded PowerPC 405GP controller to offload system control from

the FPGA processors, which can then be dedicated to signal processing. It also provides a seamless network interface.

The following summarizes the external interfaces on the PRO-3100 board:

• TM1 interface (to the TM1-3300) – can handle 8 simultaneous 80 MSPS channels

• flexFabric interface – supporting up to six 320 MB/s full-duplex switched fabric links

• PICMG 2.16 compliant switched Ethernet

• 66 MHz, 32-bit PCI via cPCI backplane

For more information on the PRO-3100, please see the PRO-3100 datasheet.

cPCI Bus (Control and Setup)

Redundant Ethernet Switch

Ethernet Switch

PRO-3500

PRO-3100

PRO-3500

Redundant PRO-3100

TM1-3300

flexFabric (Serial RapidIO)Ethernet

Figure 1. Example SDR-3000 Configuration (high availability)

[ PRO-3500 ]

The PRO-3500 is a signal processing engine with two PowerPC G4 processors, and support for two ePMC modules.

Up to two additional G4s or additional I/O can be supported via additional ePMC modules.

The PRO-3500 contains a user-programmable embedded PowerPC 405GP controller to provide networking support,

and to offload system control from the PowerPC G4 processors, which can then be dedicated to signal processing.

The following summarizes the external interfaces on the PRO-3500 board:

• flexFabric interface – supporting up to two 320 MB/s full-duplex switched fabric links

• PICMG 2.16 compliant switched Ethernet

• 66 MHz, 32-bit PCI via cPCI backplane

• ePMC module sites: ePMC modules are PMC modules that are equipped with Solano~link ports to move high-speed data to the

PRO-3500 via an additional connector. Four dedicated, full-duplex 200 MB/s data paths between the PRO-3500 and the ePMC

module are supported. For more information on the PRO-3500, please see the PRO-3500 datasheet. Spectrum’s ePMC-PPC and

ePMC-8311 (‘C64X) modules are currently supported.

[ TM1-3300 ]

The TM1-3300 is a cPCI transition module supporting four 80 MHz ADCs and four 160 MHz DACs, for interfacing to any

commercial RF front-end unit with an analog IF, or a baseband signal interface.

For more information on the TM1-3300, please see the TM1-3300 datasheet.

[ TM1-3350 ]

The TM1-3350 is a cPCI transition module supporting two 212 MHz ADCs and two 212 MHz DACs, for interfacing to any

commercial RF front-end unit with an analog IF, or a baseband signal interface.

For more information on the TM1-3350, please see the TM1-3350 datasheet.

[ TM1-3902 ]

The TM1-3902 is both a reference design that facilitates the design of custom I/O as well as a high performance digital I/O

solution for SDR-3000 systems.

For more information on the TM1-3902, please see the TM1-3902 datasheet.

[ flexFabric ]

All signal processing devices, including FPGAs, G4’s and ‘C64X’s, are connected via flexFabric, a serial RapidIO-based switched

fabric that allows virtually any dataflow to be achieved when working with high-data rate front-end processing. flexFabric

supports the following specific features:

• flexFabric - Serial RapidIO-based switched fabric connects all boards with deterministic, low-latency data paths that can

sustain payload data rates of 320 MB/s (full-duplex). A wide variety of application-specific topologies can be created using

different backplanes and backplane overlays.

• Packet switches are built into the PRO-3100. This allows use of passive backplanes, eliminating the backplane as a single point

of failure in high availability systems.

[ Ethernet ]

Both the PRO-3100 and PRO-3500 support 100 Mbps Ethernet via either of:

• PICMG 2.16 compliant CompactPCI Backplane

• Front panel

Software

SDR-3000 features a standards-based software stack,

providing performance, code portability, and allowing

choice with respect to which components are used in

an application.

[ TAO CORBA ]

CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture)

is an industry standard means of developing distributed,

multiprocessor, multi-OS, multi-vendor software systems.

Every PowerPC processor in the SDR-3000 platform

is supplied with an Object Request Broker, or ORB, to

facilitate CORBA development if required. Although

different variants of CORBA are commercially available

from various vendors, Spectrum selected the TAO

open-source ORB due to its ideal combination of level

of industry adoption, performance and price.

Although TAO CORBA is supplied as standard, its

actual use is completely optional, and software

applications can be built on the VxWorks and

quicComm layers.

[ VxWorks and Tornado ]

VxWorks, from Wind River Systems, is the leading real-

time operating system in the embedded marketplace.

The SDR-3000 series product line supports VxWorks on

both the G4 processors as well as the on-board

embedded controllers (405GPs).

Features of the VxWorks RTOS include:

• Scaleable, high-performance wind® microkernel

• Advanced networking support

• File system and I/O management

VxWorks is bundled with the Tornado II development toolset from

Wind River Systems, also available from Spectrum.

The package available from Spectrum includes:

• Win2000 development environment

• C/ C++ compiler

• Editor, debugger, simulator, launcher, browser

• The VxWorks operating system

• A choice of the supplemental development tools, including WIND®VIEW, VxSim, StethoScope, TraceScope,

MemScope, ProfileScope, Real-time Visualisation Pack, CoverageScope, CodeTEST and Visual SlickEdit

[ quicComm ]

quicComm is Spectrum’s high-performance library for all board-level functions. These include:

• High-performance interprocessor communication: quicComm provides high-level software links and signals between

all processors allowing a simple, yet extremely powerful programming model

• Booting functions for PowerPCs, user programmable FPGAs and ‘C64X DSPs

• Flash programming tools for both the PRO-3100 and PRO-3500

• Control of all I/O not covered by the operating system (e.g. control of digital radio hardware)

quicComm is available on all generations of flexComm products released since 2000, and will be available

on all future generations, allowing maximum code portability and reducing the learning curve.

flexComm SDR-3000

Waveform N

Waveform 2

Waveform 1

Hardware Abstraction

(quicComm, 3rd Party

device drivers)

CORBA Object

Request Broker

Application

Framework (SCA)

Operating System (VxWorks) and TCP/IP Stack

Hardware

Application

resource (DSP)

Application

resource (PPC)

Application

resource (FPGA)

quicWave

VSIPL

IP cores

(Xilinx or other

3rd party)

Logical

Device

Spectrum SCA BSP

Figure 2. SDR-3000 Software Stack

[ Software Communications Architecture (SCA) ]

The SCA is an open specification sponsored by the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program. It specifies software, hardware,

security, and networking architecture requirements for open, programmable Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems with flexible,

re-programmable communication capabilities.

Specifically, the SCA specifies a common framework to build-up, configure, connect and tear down distributed, embedded

radio applications while maximizing waveform portability.

Spectrum has partnered with Harris Corporation to provide a mature, fully functional SCA core framework, in conjunction

with Spectrum’s SCA BSP, which implements those portions of the SCA core framework specific to the SDR-3000.

For full details, please see the "Harris dmTK and Spectrum SCA BSP" datasheet.

[ VSI/Pro ]

Spectrum has partnered with MPI Software Technology to bring you VSI/Pro, a vector and image

processing library, specifically optimized to the PowerPC G4.

The library is fully compliant with the VSIPL API standard, as published by the VSIPL forum, maximizing

code portability via an efficient programming interface. For further details on the VSIPL forum, please see: www.vsipl.org.

VSI/Pro contains optimized functions for common signal processing tasks such as FFTs, FIR filters, dot products and

trigonometric/algebraic functions.

Full details of VSI/Pro can be found at www.mpi-softtech.com.

[ quicWave for PowerPC ]

quicWave for PowerPC is a library of building blocks for the development of wireless modems (waveforms). These building

blocks can be combined with user-defined and other quicWave blocks to create a complete PowerPC-based wireless application.

Typical blocks would include modulation and demodulation, carrier recovery, symbol rate recovery, forward error

correction (FEC) and decision circuits.

quicWave for PowerPC is built on top of the VSIPL industry standard interface for signal processing functionality. This allows

the library to be optimized to the PowerPC G4 Altivec engine simply by linking with VSI/Pro.

For full details, please see the quicWave for PowerPC datasheet.

[ FPGA Cores ]

A comprehensive selection of FPGA cores is available, many of them free, from the Xilinx IP center at

http://www.xilinx.com/ipcenter/index.htm.

These include both the Digital Downconverter (DDC) and Digital Upconverter LogiCOREs.

Please note that Spectrum routinely develops custom cores for clients when these are otherwise unavailable.

If you have such a requirement, please contact your Spectrum sales representative.

Basic Package vs. Optional Extras

Note that developers can use as much or as little of this software stack as they choose. The following table

illustrates which components are supplied as part of the basic SDR-3000 package vs. optional extras:

Basic SDR-3000 Software Package Optional Extras

TAO CORBA (use is optional)

quicComm for all hardware

VxWorks BSPs for all applicable hardware

quicWave for PowerPC

[ Hot-Swap ]

Future SDR-3000 releases will be PICMG 2.1 hot-swap compliant. Please contact your Spectrum Sales Representative

for further information.

Tornado/VxWorks

(specific components required unless already purchased)

Xilinx ISE

(required unless already purchased)

VSI/Pro

SCA Core Framework (dmTK and SCA BSP)

SDR-3001 Integrated Development System

In order to allow customers to begin developing immediately with minimal risk,

Spectrum has made the SDR-3001 Integrated Development System available.

The SDR-3001 IDS includes:

• One complete board set (PRO-3100, PRO-3500, and TM1-3300)

• A rackmount CompactPCI chassis

• 3-slot flexFabric passive backplane, allowing a level of system expansion

• Tornado and VxWorks board support package

• quicComm software

• quicWave component libraries for PowerPCs

• TAO CORBA

• Windows 2000 development PC with all software tools installed and tested

• All necessary cables and documentation

Other hardware and software can be integrated into the SDR-3001 IDS according to your needs.

These include but are not limited to:

• Tornado II / VxWorks 5.4

• FPGA cores for Virtex-II FPGAs

• VSI/Pro

• Additional PRO-3100, PRO-3500, TM1-3300, TM1-3350 or TM1-3902 boards

flexComm SDR-3000

[ Customer Training ]

In order to accelerate early development efforts, Spectrum offers a unique customer training service,

which can be purchased with any integrated development system (IDS).

The standard SDR-3000 training consists of three days of time with a Spectrum Applications engineer,

working with actual hardware. An additional three day course covers the dmTK and SCA BSP, if this

option is included. Alternatively a five day course is offered covering both SDR-3000 and the SCA

components. Training typically consists of:

• Descriptions of over-all system functions and data paths

• Demonstrations of the Development Tools

• Training on how to run and rebuild software examples

• Formal training modules (presentations and hands-on)

Should you have any specific areas that need to be covered in greater detail these can be requested

ahead of time (recommended), or at the training.

Experience thus far has shown this service to be an invaluable tool that generates significant cost

savings and reduces risk for Spectrum customers.

Training can be done either at Spectrum’s head office in Burnaby, B.C., Canada, or it can be done

at additional cost at the customer site.

[ Custom Application Development ]

Spectrum has a long established capability in developing custom application software for its clients.

Should you require all or part of your application code to be outsourced, please contact your Spectrum

sales representative.

flexComm SDR-3000

Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. tel +1/604.421.5422 or +1.800.663.8986 fax +1/604.421.1764 www.spectrumsignal.com

Specifications (assumes 1xPRO-3100, 1xPRO-3500, 1xTM1-3300 or TM1-3350 or TM1-3902)

[ general ] Form Factor 6U CompactPCI

I/O 4 x A/D channels, 14-bit, 80 MHz, 4 x D/A channels, 14-bit, 80 MHz

(with 2x interpolation to 160 MSPS), or

2xA/D channels, 12-bit, 212 MHz, 2xD/A channels, 14-bit, 212 MHz, or

I/O Reference design/Digital I/O, 640 MB/s bidirectional

or 1500 MB/s input only

Processors 4 x user programmable Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs (XC2V6000 or XC2V3000)

2 x PowerPC MPC7410 G4 on PRO-3500, plus additional 2 G4s or ‘C64X’s via ePMC sites

PowerPC 405GP embedded controllers on both PRO-3100 and PRO-3500

[ buses ] Host CompactPCI bus: 32-bit /66 MHz

[ external interfaces ] flexFabric flexFabric Serial RapidI/O switched fabric for interboard communications.

Six 320 MB/s links are supported on the PRO-3100 while two are supported on the PRO-3500.

ePMC Dual 33 MHz, 32-bit PMC sites with Solano enhanced capability

Ethernet 10/100-BaseT Ethernet supported via either: PICMG 2.16 packet switched backplane

or front panel

Serial port RS-232 ports of embedded controllers are routed to the front panels of the PRO-3100

and PRO-3500

User-defined I/O Sixteen user-defined pins from each Virtex-II FPGA routed to front panel

[ performance ] Please consult individual board datasheets for block diagrams:

Peak Data Transfer Rates Between TM1 interface and each Virtex-II FPGA 640 MB/s bidirectional or 1500 MB/s input

Between Virtex-II processors 376 MB/s

From PRO-3100 to other boards via flexFabric 320 MB/s per link

Virtex-II to embedded controller 10 MB/s

Between PowerPC G4s via Solano 200 MB/s

[ software ] quicComm, TAO CORBA, VxWorks, VSI/Pro, quicWave for PowerPC

[ environmental ] Temperature Operating temperature range of 0 to 45 ˚C

[ quality ] MTBF 100,118 hours

[ ordering information ] You should contact your Spectrum Sales Representative for specific ordering

information. You can expect to cover the following items:

Development PC Minimum specifications: 2.5 GHz Pentium-IV processor, 512 MB SDRAM, Windows 2000

Hardware Configurations can be constructed from a combination of chassis, PRO-3100, PRO-3500,

TM1-3300, TM1-3350, TM1-3902 and flexFabric backplane.

SDR-3000 Base Software and Documentation Includes quicComm software for all SDR-3000 series boards, plus quicWave, VxWorks

BSP's and ACE/TAO CORBA. Licensed on a per site, per project basis.

Tornado/VxWorks Tornado/VxWorks is ordered on a development seat basis (per developer), plus an OEM

license (per processor type). 7410 and 405GP PowerPC processors require separate OEM

licenses. All pricing includes first year maintenance, while run-time licensing applies (per

processor) for production systems only.

SCA Core Framework The SCA core framework comprises Harris dmTK and Spectrum's SCA BSP. The dmTK is

licensed on a per developer basis while the SCA BSP is licensed on a per project, per site

basis.

VSI/Pro VSI/Pro is ordered on a development seat basis and is optional. Run-time licensing

applies (per processor), for both development and production systems.

Xilinx ISE Xilinx ISE 6.1 is recommended for FPGA development, and can be ordered from Spectrum

as an option. ModelSim 5.8 PE with both VHDL and Verilog licenses is required to use the

supplied simulation environment.

Training Initial SDR-3000 and SCA orders require compulsory training, either at Spectrum's

headquarters or at your site. Options include: SDR-3000 training (3-days), SCA training

(3-days) and combined SDR-3000/SCA training (5-days).

[ custom configurations ] For custom configuration options, please contact Spectrum Sales

SIGNAL PROCESSING

Rev 05/04

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