Precision metrology demands electronics that are quiet, efficient and dependable. Engineering Minds Munich designed and brought up a custom carrier board around Cologne Chip’s GateMate CCGM1A1 FPGA to drive a highly sensitive measurement circuit, going from concept to a fully running board in under two months.
On a compact footprint of around 80 × 60 mm, the board runs a VexRiscv RISC-V softcore and custom logic while drawing less than 0.5 W itself. It also supplies two power rails to its daughterboard dimensioned for up to 50 W. A robust input stage built from automotive-qualified (AEC-Q) components accepts a wide supply range and withstands up to ±60 V continuously. JTAG, RS-422, RS-485, a mezzanine connector and general-purpose headers simplify integration into larger setups.
An in-house programming and test adapter exposes every interface, enabling low-cost automation of programming, testing and validation.
Most active components come from European manufacturers, with global second sources for supply resilience. Combined with an open-source toolchain and the open RISC-V architecture, the platform requires no licence fees and reduces dependence on proprietary, non-European technology.
Looking for a European FPGA-based electronics solution? Get in touch with Engineering Minds Munich to explore how we can develop custom, low-power electronics using EU27-sourced components, open-source technologies and European supply chains — from initial concept to fully validated hardware.