Socionext Licenses Flex Logix’s Embedded FPGA (eFPGA) For 5G Wireless Base Station Platform

By Editor On Jun 21, 2021

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BERGBLICK, Caliph., June 21, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Flex Logix® Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Socionext, Inc. to use EFLXEF from Flex Logix® 4K eFPGA in a 7 nm ASIC is being developed for the 5G platform of a large communications company. By using eFPGA, Socionext can deliver a reprogrammable ASIC that can be reconfigured after tape-out to adapt to new requirements and changing standards and protocols as required.

By integrating the FPGA, Socionext can improve performance and reduce power consumption by eliminating a chip in the base station. This also offers personalization benefits for operators who no longer have to share their proprietary software with the ASIC provider in order to add it to the FPGA.

“While wireless base stations have always used FPGAs to provide carrier personalization and upgradeability, the requirements of 5G call for higher performance while reducing system performance and costs,” said Yutaka Hayashi, Vice President of Socionext’s Data Center and Networking Business Unit. “This can be achieved by using an ASIC solution and utilizing the Flex Logix eFPGA in this design. Now that the ASIC is reconfigurable, our mobile customers can provide a flexible 5G platform that supports network operator-specific requirements now and in the future. “

“Given the continuing need for more performance through hardware acceleration and lowering system performance and costs, we see a growing need for RTL reconfigurability within ASICs to support end-user customizations and accelerations,” said Geoff Tate, CEO of FlexLogix. “Wireless base stations in particular are perfectly suited to take advantage of this flexibility. We look forward to working with Socionext to help them offer their customers a highly adaptable and future-proof solution.”

EFLX is a digital architecture for the development of embedded FPGAs for integration in SoCs, ASICs and MCUs of various sizes. The EFLX4K Logic IP core has 4K 4 input equivalent LUTs, 632 inputs and 632 outputs and is a complete eFPGA. The EFLX4K DSP IP core replaces about ¼ of the LUTs with 40 multiplier accumulators for DSP and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. The two EFLX4K cores can be tiled into larger arrays to support applications that require more LUTs as needed, well over 250,000 LUTs with any mix of logic and DSP cores.

The EFLX arrays are programmed with Verilog or VHDL; and the EFLX compiler takes the output of a synthesis tool like Synopsys Synplify and does packing, placing, routing, timing and bitstream generation. The bitstream, when loaded into the array, programs it to perform the desired RTL.

About Socionext
Socionext is a global, innovative company that designs, develops and delivers system-on-chip solutions to customers worldwide. The company focuses on technologies that drive cutting-edge applications in the consumer, automotive and industrial markets. Socionext combines first-class know-how, experience and an extensive IP portfolio to offer exceptional solutions and guarantee customers a better quality experience. Socionext Inc. was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Yokohama, and has offices in Japan, Asia, United States and Europe to lead product development and sales. Please visit https://www.socionext.com for more information.

About FlexLogix
Flex Logix is a reconfigurable computer company providing AI inference and eFPGA solutions based on software, systems and silicon. Its InferX X1 is the fastest and most efficient AI edge inference accelerator in the industry that will bring AI to the masses in high volume applications with much higher inference throughput per dollar and per watt. Flex Logix’s eFPGA platform enables chips to flexibly deal with changing protocols, standards, algorithms and customer requirements, and to implement reconfigurable accelerators that accelerate critical workloads by 30 to 100 times compared to processors. Flex Logix is headquartered in Mountain view, California also with offices in Austin, Texas. Further information can be found at https://flex-logix.com.

PRESS CONTACT:
Kelly Karr
Tanis Communications, Inc.
[email protected]
+ 408-718-9350

SOURCE Flex Logix Technologies, Inc.

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