Debugging electronics can be a bit of a puzzle, but the SP259i logic analyzer is here to make the process smoother. In this article, we’ll walk through how to use the SP259i to analyze RS485 systems like a pro.

Introduction​

In the world of semiconductor testing, Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) is often associated with high performance—and high costs (ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars). For DFT (Design for Test) and QA engineers seeking a much more affordable yet capable solution, the SP1018G from the SP1000G Series offers an innovative alternative. With advanced pattern generation capabilities and scripting flexibility, the SP1018G provides a streamlined approach to testing and verification without the hefty price tag of traditional ATE systems.

We're happy to announce the release of an update for SP259 and SP259i Logic Analyzer firmware. This update can be applied to any existing device: you simply need to update ScanaStudio Software to its latest version. In this post, we'll dive into the specifics of that update and the challenges behind it.

We’ll be focusing on Spartan FPGA devices, hence we’ll use one of the tools that are compatible with this devices family. It’s not the most recent family of FPGAs from Xilinx, but it’s a good starting point because it’s highly documented (both on official and unofficial channels), and by far one of the most famous FPGA families out there. It’s also one of the less expansive.

In Part 1 we have explained what are FPGAs and how they are different from micro-controllers. In this second part, we're going to dig deeper into the world of FPGAs and discuss some of the most important aspects that you need to understand in order to get started.