Development of digital hardware and embedded systems: IP modules, FPGA prototyping, ASIC design and embedded software
xFace e.U.
Graz (Neubaugasse 24, c/o Spacelend)New on Amplifa
About xFace
xFace e.U. is a sole proprietorship founded in 2010 by Dr. Johannes Wolkerstorfer and based in Graz that develops digital hardware for embedded systems. The service portfolio comprises customized IP modules, FPGA prototyping on Xilinx and Efinix platforms (Kintex, Ultrascale, Zynq), ASIC design in standard-cell technology, embedded software development for ARM Cortex microcontrollers, Microblaze and TI C2000 DSPs, as well as circuit optimization with respect to speed and power consumption. Verification is carried out with NCsim, Modelsim and Xilinx XSIM including regression tests and post-layout simulation. Customer industries include automotive, medical technology, communication systems, information security as well as music and media technology; customers and partners include, among others, ams OSRAM, AVL, TriLite Technologies, FTW, Joanneum Research and Graz University of Technology. The company works as a technology-oriented development partner from specification through hardware-software partitioning to integration on prototyping boards, and where required organizes printed circuit board design and manufacturing for demonstration purposes.
- Site
- Graz
- Processes
- Digital circuit design (ASIC: standard cell circuits), Digital circuit design (FPGA: Xilinx Kintex, Xilinx Ultrascale, Xilinx Zynq), HDL design (Verilog, VHDL), Verification (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM), Regression tests (TCL, HDL testbench), Post layout simulation (SDF annotation), Circuit optimization (high speed: pipelining & algorithmic optimization; low power: clock gating,, Design automation (flexible build environment, Makefile)
- Materials
- Xilinx FPGA (Kintex, Ultrascale, Zynq), ARM Cortex M0/M3/M7/M55 (various manufacturers), Microblaze (Xilinx), C2000 DSPs TMS320F280x, TMS320F28x (Texas Instruments), CMOS 55nm, CMOS 40nm, Printed circuit boards (PCB), Efinix FPGA
- Certificates
- Verification (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM), Regression tests (TCL, HDL testbench), Post-layout simulation (SDF annotation), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2010
- Industries
- Automotive, Medical technology, Communication systems, Information security, Music/Media technology, Semiconductor industry
- 01
Specification and system architecture
- 02
Hardware-software partitioning
- 03
Digital circuit design (HDL: Verilog, VHDL)
- 04
Verification, regression tests, post-layout simulation
- 05
FPGA prototyping and embedded software integration
Technologies and Platforms
Xilinx FPGA (Kintex, Ultrascale, Zynq)
Platform for FPGA prototyping and digital hardware modules.
Efinix FPGA
Used, among other things, for brightness and position correction of a laser projector.
ARM Cortex M0/M3/M7/M55
Microcontroller platform for embedded software, including Cortex-M55 with Ethos U55 for computer vision.
Microblaze (Xilinx)
Soft-core processor for embedded systems on Xilinx FPGAs.
C2000 DSPs (TMS320F280x, TMS320F28x)
Texas Instruments DSPs for embedded software development.
Standard Cell ASIC (CMOS 55nm, 40nm)
Basis for system-on-chip designs, e.g. Cortex-M-based SoC on 55nm CMOS and 32-bit audio DSP on 40nm CMOS.
Printed circuit boards (PCB)
Design and manufacturing organization for demonstration and prototyping boards.
Location
Graz
ATOffice and development
- Materials
- FPGA, microcontrollers, ASIC design
- FPGA prototyping boards (Xilinx Kintex, Ultrascale, Zynq; Efinix)
- Embedded development boards (ARM Cortex M0/M3/M7/M55, Microblaze, C2000 DSP)
- Verification workstations (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM)
Development Results
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital circuit design (ASIC: standard cell circuits)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Digital circuit design (FPGA: Xilinx Kintex, Xilinx Ultrascale, Xilinx Zynq)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Xilinx FPGA |
| HDL design (Verilog, VHDL)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Verification (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Regression tests (TCL, HDL testbench)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Post layout simulation (SDF annotation)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Circuit optimization (high speed: pipelining & algorithmic optimization; low power: clock gating,Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design automation (flexible build environment, Makefile)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Embedded software development (Petalinux, ARM Cortex M0/M3/M7/M55, Microblaze, C2000 DSPsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| FPGA prototyping (integration of hardware and software components into FPGA- andAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Organization of design and manufacturing of printed circuit boards (demonstration purposes)Engineering | – | – | – | – | printed circuit boards |
| Development of customized IP modules / digital hardware modules (scientific systems, automotive,Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Embedded systems development (specification, hardware/software partitioning, component creation andEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| System-on-chip design (SoC concept, e.g. Cortex-M based SoC on 55nm CMOS, 32-bit audio DSP on 40nmEngineering | – | – | – | – | CMOS (55nm, 40nm) |
| System verification of mixed-signal audio chip setTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mixed-signal evaluation of smart power switchTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPGA prototyping boards (Xilinx Kintex, Ultrascale, Zynq; Efinix) | Xilinx / Efinix | – | – | – | Graz, Austria |
| Embedded development boards (ARM Cortex M0/M3/M7/M55, Microblaze, C2000 DSP) | – | – | – | – | Graz, Austria |
| Verification workstation (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM) | – | – | – | – | Graz, Austria |
Additional services
Reference customers
Verification and Quality
xFace applies a rigorous design methodology to ensure functionality and system boundary conditions such as circuit complexity, performance and low power consumption; verification is performed via simulation, regression tests (TCL, HDL testbench) and post-layout simulation with SDF annotation.
| Evidence | Graz |
|---|---|
| Verification (NCsim, Modelsim, Xilinx XSIM) | |
| Regression tests (TCL, HDL testbench) | |
| Post-layout simulation (SDF annotation) | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2009
Member of Science Park Graz (from December 2009)
- 2010
Foundation of xFace by Johannes Wolkerstorfer
- 2010–2013
Fit-IT NOFDM project: digital frontend for ultra-wideband communication
- 2011–2013
Comet SELECT project with FTW on tunnel monitoring via high-frequency channels
- 2012–2014
RFID qualification network of Graz University of Technology
- 2020–2022
EBS qualification network Electronic Based Systems (FFG)
- 2021
Website relaunch with HTTPS and smartphone-optimized display