Overview
Data compression is important in any application where storage or network
capacity is limited. Lossless compression allows complete recovery of the
original data, so is ideally suited to these applications.
Previously compression was often handled in software, but today's
requirements mean that high performance hardware acceleration of the
compression processing is becoming a basic requirement.
The LZRW family of algorithms provide general-purpose lossless compression with
good performance at high throughputs and low memory utilisation. The Helion LZRW
Compression core is therefore a basic building block for many applications.
Helion LZRW Solutions
Helion's LZRW core is a high performance hardware implementation of either
LZRW1-A or LZRW3. LZRW1 is chosen for short history depths, as it allows a
much smaller and faster expander, whereas LZRW3 allows better compression
using longer history depths.
There is further information on the algorithms on the
Compression Backgrounder page.
A choice of separate compression and expansion engines, or a combined
compressor / expander is available, each capable of processing at
gigabit rates in typical ASIC or FPGA targets.
These high performance cores are available in versions for use in ASIC, Altera,
Lattice and Xilinx FPGA, and in common with all Helion IP cores they
have been designed with each technology firmly in mind to yield the very
best and most efficient results.
Measured Area and Performance
Example figures for combined LZRW1 Compressor/Expander.
The functions are available separately, as smaller cores.
The LZRW1 Expander is considerably smaller and uses much less memory.
| TARGET |
THROUGHPUT1,2 |
AREA2 |
RAM3 |
| ASIC (65nm CMOS) |
1.3 Gbps |
<15k gates |
64 to 580 Kbits RAM |
| Altera Cyclone IV (C6) |
800 Mbps |
1669 LEs |
12 to 19 M9Ks |
| Altera Cyclone V (C6) |
1.0 Gbps |
710 ALMs |
8 to 23 M10Ks |
| Altera Arria II GX (C4) |
1.4 Gbps |
801 ALMs |
12 to 19 M9Ks |
| Altera Arria II GZ (C3) |
1.3 Gbps |
818 ALMs |
12 to 19 M9Ks
0 to 4 M144Ks |
| Altera Arria V GX (C4) |
1.1 Gbps |
714 ALMs |
8 to 23 M10Ks |
| Altera Arria V GZ (C3) |
1.4 Gbps |
819 ALMs |
4 to 36 M20Ks |
| Altera Stratix IV (C2) |
1.4 Gbps |
787 ALMs |
12 to 19 M9Ks
0 to 4 M144Ks |
| Altera Stratix V (C2) |
1.7 Gbps |
831 ALMs |
4 to 36 M20Ks |
| Lattice ECP3 (-8) |
700 Mbps |
1002 slices |
4 to 12 EBRs |
| Microsemi AX (-1) |
350 Mbps |
2118 cells |
19 to 50 RAMs |
| Microsemi ProASIC3L (-1) |
280 Mbps |
2873 tiles |
19 to 25 RAMs |
| Xilinx Spartan-3A (-5) |
600 Mbps |
893 slices |
4 to 12 RAMB16s |
| Xilinx Spartan-6 (-2) |
800 Mbps |
238 slices |
4 to 20 RAMB16s |
| Xilinx Artix-7 (-2) |
1.0 Gbps |
226 slices |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
| Xilinx Virtex-5 (-3) |
1.3 Gbps |
221 slices |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
| Xilinx Virtex-6 (-3) |
1.3 Gbps |
225 slices |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
| Xilinx Virtex-7 (-2) |
1.3 Gbps |
228 slices |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
| Xilinx Kintex-7 (-2) |
1.3 Gbps |
227 slices |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
| Xilinx UltraSCALE (-2) |
1.45 Gbps |
172 CLBs |
4 to 36 RAMB18s |
1. Throughput figures are typical for the uncompressed interface and are data dependant.
2. These figures are for 2K history depth; the throughput will drop by up to 10%, and the area
increase by up to 10% percent, for longer history depths and blocksizes.
3. RAM figures will vary with chosen history depth and blocksize. The range quoted covers
history depths from 2K to a technology-dependent upper limit of 8K/16K/32K/64K (see datasheet for details).
Greater depths would be possible with somewhat lower performance.
Datasheets
For full details of the Helion LZRW cores, please download the datasheet appropriate
to your target technology.
Click here for the Altera FPGA core data sheet (PDF format)
Click here for the Xilinx FPGA core data sheet (PDF format)
Please contact Helion for availability in ASIC, Lattice and Microsemi (Actel) targets.
Contact
For more detailed information on this or any of our other products and services,
please feel free to email us at
helioncores@heliontech.com and we will be pleased to discuss how we can assist
with your individual requirements.
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