Actel

Silicon Sculptor 3

Silicon Sculptor 3 is an FPGA programming tool that delivers high data throughput and promotes ease of use, while lowering the overall cost of ownership. The Silicon Sculptor 3 includes a high-speed USB 2.0 interface that allows a customer to connect as many as 12 programmers to a single PC. Furthermore, Silicon Sculptor 3 is compatible with adapter modules from Silicon Sculptor II, thereby preserving a customer's investment and enabling a seamless upgrade to this latest generation of the tool.

Silicon Sculptor 3 replaces the Silicon Sculptor II as Actel's programmer of choice. Silicon Sculptor I has been discontinued. Read more about product notifications.

Product Features

Silicon Sculptor 3 offers four times the memory size compared to the previous Actel Silicon Sculptor II programmer and has faster data processing. With 64 MB of internal memory, the Silicon Sculptor 3 allows concurrent programming of highly-dense parts that could only be programmed non-concurrently with prior programmers, which means higher throughput is now possible for even the densest of parts. This additional memory will also support the larger algorithms of planned future parts. Silicon Sculptor 3 incorporates the industry's widely accepted high-speed USB 2.0 standard bus for communications, allowing as many as twelve Silicon Sculptor 3 systems to be connected to a single PC through a series of nested high-speed USB 2.0 hubs. This enables an easily expandable, low to medium volume production programming system to be dynamically assembled.

Silicon Sculptor 3

Silicon Sculptor 3 offers the following protection features:

  • Overcurrent shutdown
  • Power failure shutdown
  • ESD protection
  • ESD wrist straps with banana jacks (included as standard)

Silicon Sculptor 3 Benefits:

  • Programs all Actel packages, including PLCC, PQFP, VQFP, VQFP, QFN, BGA, FBGA, and CSP
  • Universal Actel socket adapters
  • Works with Silicon Sculptor II adapter modules
  • Uses the same software as Silicon Sculptor II
  • Compatible with Silicon Sculptor software v4.59.2 and later
  • Security fuse can be programmed to secure the devices
  • Allows self-test to test its own hardware
  • STAPL support for IGLOO, ProASIC3, Fusion, and ProASICPLUS

Supported Operating Systems:

  • Windows XP Professional (SP2 recommended)
  • Windows 2000 Professional (SP4 recommended)

Device Support

Silicon Sculptor 3 is the ideal low-cost programmer for Actel's entire portfolio of FPGAs.
Flash Devices
RadTolerant Devices
Antifuse

Documentation

Application Notes
  AC168: Implementation of Security in Actel Antifuse FPGAs App Note 
Important information about security in Antifuse FPGAs
PDF 599 KB 2/2003
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  AC185: Implementation of Security in Actel's ProASIC and ProASICPLUS Flash-Based FPGAs App Note 
Important information about security in Flash FPGAs
PDF 548 KB 9/2003
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  AC225: Programming Antifuse Devices App Note  PDF 484 KB 11/2009
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  AC309: In-System Programming ProASICPLUS Devices App Note  PDF 774 KB 7/2008
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  AC316: High-Volume Flash Programming Guide App Note  PDF 47 KB 1/2008
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  HB: Programming Flash Devices (v1.3) PDF 490 KB 12/2008
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User's Guides and Manuals
  ProASIC Daisy-Chain Programming  PDF 68 KB 7/2001
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  Silicon Sculptor 6X Programming Procedure  PDF 145 KB 5/2000
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  Silicon Sculptor II and 3 Programmers Online Help  ZIP 1 MB 9/2009
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  Silicon Sculptor II and 3 Programmers User's Guide  PDF 1 MB 9/2009
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  Silicon Sculptor Quick Reference Card  PDF 446 KB 4/2004
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  Silicon Sculptor User's Guide (DOS)  PDF 374 KB 5/2000
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  Silicon Sculptor Verification of Calibration Guide  PDF 203 KB 11/2007
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FAQ
  Antifuse Programming FAQ  PDF 288 KB 4/2005
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Customer Notifications
  Memory Retention on the Silicon Sculptor 3 Programmer  PDF 44 KB 6/2009
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