The SpaceWire CODEC IP Core is a very compact IP Core providing a complete and configurable interfacing solution for high data-rate communications compliant with the standard ECSS-E-ST-50-12C.

The SpaceWire protocol defines a bi-directional, full-duplex, serial data communication link, and it is based on LVDS physical layer, resulting in a low power high speed link.

The SpaceWire CODEC IP Core has been tested at multiple levels, it is interoperable with other SpaceWire commercial products (e.g., conformance testers).

It has been validated in ESA space project, and it has been integrated in space flight hardware for Earth Observation missions (e.g., ESA Sentinel-3 mission).

The IP Core is available as “simple” CODEC, implementing the full SpW protocol stack and having simple TX/RX FIFO interface for data and access to control status registers. This is the most flexible version to be integrated in a third party FPGA/ASIC design.

In order to accommodate more complex designs, the IP Core can be extended with Direct Memory Access (DMA) and standard bus interface such as AMBA AXI. This extensions make it easier to use the IP Core within microprocessor-based systems.