company blog about Supply/Recycle Xilinx Zynq™ 7000 SoCs With Hardware And Software Programmability

Mingjiada Supply/Recycle Xilinx Zynq™ 7000 SoCs With Hardware And Software Programmability

I. Core Architecture: The Perfect Fusion of Software and Hardware Programmability

The core advantage of the Zynq™ 7000 SoC series lies in its unique integrated ‘Processing System (PS) + Programmable Logic (PL)’ architecture. These two components are tightly integrated via a high-bandwidth AMBA®-AXI interconnect bus, enabling seamless collaboration and flexible allocation of software and hardware resources. This approach retains the convenience of software while also delivering the high performance and customisation capabilities of hardware.

1. Software-Programmable Core: Processing System (PS)

The Processing System (PS) serves as the ‘brain’ of the Zynq™ 7000 SoC, employing a high-performance ARM® Cortex®-A9 processor. Available in single-core (Zynq 7000S series) and dual-core (Zynq 7000 series) configurations, it operates at frequencies up to 1GHz, delivering exceptional software processing capabilities and compatibility. The PS integrates a complete memory architecture and extensive peripheral interfaces internally, enabling core control functions without requiring additional expansion chips and significantly simplifying system design.

For storage, the PS features 32KB of independent L1 instruction and data caches per CPU core, a 512KB shared L2 cache, and 256KB of on-chip memory (OCM) capable of directly hosting real-time operating systems. It supports multiple external memory types including DDR3, DDR3L, DDR2, and LPDDR2, with a maximum address space of 1GB to meet diverse application storage requirements. Peripheral interfaces include dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 OTG, SD/SDIO, UART, CAN 2.0B, I2C, SPI, and a DMA controller. This facilitates high-speed data transfer between memory and peripherals, covering the connectivity requirements of most embedded applications.

At the software level, the PS supports multiple operating systems including Linux, FreeRTOS, and Android, alongside bare-metal development modes. Developers can utilise familiar programming languages such as C/C++ for application development without requiring expertise in complex hardware description languages, significantly lowering the software development threshold. Concurrently, leveraging ARM TrustZone® technology and secure boot mechanisms (based on RSA authentication and AES-256 decryption), it enables multi-layered software and hardware security protection, ensuring the safety and reliability of system operation.

2. Hardware Programmable Core: Programmable Logic (PL)

The Programmable Logic (PL) serves as the ‘customisation engine’ of the Zynq™ 7000 SoC. Based on Xilinx's 28nm 7-series FPGA architecture (Artix™ 7 or Kintex™ 7), it offers high hardware programmability. Logic functions can be flexibly configured according to application requirements to fulfil customisation needs such as hardware acceleration and custom peripherals.

The PL section incorporates extensive hardware resources, including logic cells (up to 444K), block RAM (up to 26.5Mb), DSP slices (up to 2020), and high-speed transceivers (up to 12.5Gb/s, maximum 16). The DSP Slices deliver over 2,662 GMACs of parallel signal processing performance, making them highly suitable for computationally intensive tasks such as video processing and signal analysis. The high-speed transceivers support rapid off-chip connectivity, meeting bandwidth demands for applications like high-definition video and high-speed communications. Furthermore, the PL supports partial reconfiguration, enabling dynamic adjustment of hardware logic during system operation for flexible functional upgrades and switching without requiring a system reboot.

For hardware development, engineers can utilise Xilinx's Vivado® Design Suite and High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools to design PL logic using RTL or high-level languages such as C/C++ and OpenCL. This approach embeds complex algorithms and computational tasks as hardware logic, delivering processing speeds far exceeding software while reducing system power consumption.

3. Software-Hardware Synergy: Overcoming Performance Bottlenecks

The PS and PL within the Zynq™ 7000 SoC exchange data via an AXI interconnect bus offering up to 100Gb/s bandwidth. This resolves the bottlenecks of high data transfer latency and limited bandwidth inherent in traditional discrete systems where processors and FPGAs operate separately. This collaborative architecture enables a division of labour where ‘software handles control and management, while hardware manages computation and acceleration’: the PS runs the operating system and applications, managing system scheduling, peripheral control, and data processing decisions; the PL provides hardware acceleration for computationally intensive, real-time tasks such as video encoding/decoding, image processing, and signal filtering. Working in tandem, they ensure system flexibility while maximising processing performance.

Furthermore, the PS can directly configure the PL's logic functions, enabling dynamic system adaptation. Developers can adjust the PL's hardware logic via software updates in response to changing application scenarios without modifying physical circuitry. This significantly enhances system scalability and reusability while extending product lifecycles.

II. Product Classification: A Fully Scalable Series Covering All Scenarios

The Zynq™ 7000 SoC series comprises two sub-series: Zynq 7000S and Zynq 7000. Offering multiple models, it enables flexible selection based on application performance and cost requirements, achieving comprehensive coverage from low-cost entry-level to high-performance premium applications. This fully scalable SoC platform delivers outstanding performance-per-watt efficiency and exceptional cost-effectiveness.

1. Zynq 7000S Series: Low-Cost Entry-Level Solutions

As the low-cost entry-level offering, the Zynq 7000S series incorporates a single-core Arm® Cortex®-A9 processor paired with 28nm Artix™ 7 programmable logic, operating at frequencies up to 766MHz. The series comprises three models: Z-7007S, Z-7012S, and Z-7014S. Logic cell ranges from 23K to 65K, block RAM from 1.8Mb to 3.8Mb, DSP slices from 60 to 170, with a maximum I/O pin count of 200. Select models incorporate four 6.25Gb/s transceivers.

Centred on high cost-effectiveness, this series integrates general-purpose hard peripherals to achieve system integration at an optimal cost. It is ideally suited for industrial IoT applications such as motor control, I/O modules, smart sensors, and smart grids, meeting entry-level embedded requirements for low cost and low power consumption.

2. Zynq 7000 Series: High-Performance, Multi-Functional Solution

As the flagship high-performance product line, the Zynq 7000 series incorporates a dual-core Arm Cortex-A9 processor alongside programmable logic based on 28nm Artix 7 or Kintex 7, operating at frequencies up to 1GHz. The series comprises seven models: Z-7010, Z-7015, Z-7020, Z-7030, Z-7035, Z-7045, Z-7100, offering logic cell ranges from 28K to 444K, block RAM capacities from 2.1Mb to 26.5Mb, DSP slices from 80 to 2020, and a maximum I/O pin count of 400. High-end variants incorporate 16 transceivers operating at 12.5Gb/s.

This series delivers outstanding performance-to-power efficiency and exceptional design flexibility, enabling highly differentiated designs. It is suitable for mid-to-high-end embedded applications such as multi-camera driver assistance systems, 4K2K ultra-high-definition televisions, small cell base stations, industrial automation machine vision, and medical endoscopes, meeting demands for high performance, high bandwidth, and multi-tasking capabilities.

III. Core Advantages: Multi-faceted Value from Software and Hardware Programmability

1. High Integration Reduces Design Complexity and Cost

The Zynq™ 7000 SoC integrates CPU, FPGA, DSP, ASSP, mixed-signal capabilities, and extensive peripherals onto a single die. This replaces the traditional discrete architecture of ‘processor + FPGA + peripheral chips,’ significantly reducing PCB footprint, lowering bill-of-materials (BOM) costs and design complexity, while enhancing system reliability and stability. Furthermore, AMD devices typically boast a service life exceeding 15 years, with the Zynq 7000 series supporting continuous operation through to 2040, ensuring reliable performance throughout the entire design lifecycle.

2. Flexible Programmability for Multi-Scenario Adaptability

At the software level, it supports multiple operating systems and development languages, enabling short development cycles and high flexibility. At the hardware level, the Programmable Logic (PL) can be customised to implement application-specific logic functions, achieving hardware acceleration and custom peripherals without requiring hardware circuit redesign. This dual programmability allows the Zynq™ 7000 SoC to adapt to diverse industry and application requirements, delivering tailored solutions ranging from low-cost industrial control to high-end smart devices.

3. High Performance-to-Power Ratio: Balancing Performance and Energy Efficiency

Through meticulously optimised architecture design, the Zynq™ 7000 SoC achieves an outstanding performance-to-power ratio: the ARM Cortex-A9 processor operates 25% faster than comparable competing SoCs, while the FPGA logic runs 66% faster than equivalent architectures. Compared to competing solutions, it delivers a 55% advantage in power consumption. Additionally, both the PS and PL support multiple low-power modes, dynamically adjusting power consumption based on workload to meet the low-power requirements of embedded devices.

4. Comprehensive Development Ecosystem Accelerates Time-to-Market

Xilinx provides a complete end-to-end development toolchain and ecosystem support for the Zynq™ 7000 SoC series, including the Vivado Design Suite (hardware design), SDSoC development environment (C/C++ system-wide optimisation) , Xilinx SDK (software development), alongside extensive IP libraries, reference designs, development kits (such as ZedBoard and ZC702 evaluation kits), and virtual development platforms enabling hardware-free prototyping. Furthermore, through the ARM Partner Community and Xilinx Alliance Programme, developers gain access to additional third-party tools and resources, significantly reducing development cycles and accelerating time-to-market.

IV. Typical Application Scenarios: Empowering Innovation Across Multiple Industries

Leveraging its unique programmable hardware and software capabilities, the Zynq™ 7000 SoC series finds extensive application across industrial, automotive, communications, medical, and consumer electronics sectors, serving as a core component driving embedded system innovation.

1. Industrial Automation

Within industrial settings, the Zynq™ 7000 SoC enables functions such as motor control, machine vision, and industrial communications. The PS handles system scheduling and communication protocol processing, while the PL implements high-precision motor control algorithms and accelerates image acquisition and processing. This makes it suitable for applications including multi-axis motor control, intelligent sensor data processing, and industrial robotics, enhancing the intelligence and real-time capabilities of industrial equipment.

2. Automotive Electronics

Within the automotive sector, the Zynq™ 7000 SoC primarily serves driver assistance systems (ADAS). The PL provides hardware acceleration for multi-camera video capture, image recognition, and processing, while the PS handles data fusion, decision-making, and communication. This supports features like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking, meeting automotive electronics' stringent requirements for high reliability, low power consumption, and safety.

3. Communications and Networking

Within communications, the Zynq™ 7000 SoC is deployed in small cell base stations, network switches, routers and similar equipment. The PL handles high-speed signal processing, protocol parsing and data forwarding acceleration, while the PS manages system administration and network control. Leveraging high-speed transceivers and high-bandwidth interconnect capabilities, it fulfils the high-bandwidth, low-latency demands of communication systems.

4. Medical and Consumer Electronics

Within medical applications, it serves medical endoscopes and ultrasound equipment. The PL performs real-time medical image processing and enhancement, while the PS manages device control and data storage, enhancing imaging quality and operational convenience. In consumer electronics, it powers 4K Ultra HD televisions and smart set-top boxes, delivering hardware acceleration for video encoding/decoding and image processing to provide a seamless audiovisual experience.

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