The ChipWhisperer CW310 "Bergen Board" is an advanced evaluation platform for FPGA-based security SoC, RoT, or HSM based designs. It is specifically designed to meet the needs of security evaluation purposes, while having the features that you would expect in an easy-to-use FPGA development board.
Programmable Microcontroller to port new designs to the board
This board includes a programmable microcontroller that communicates with the target FPGA. This microcontroller is responsible for tasks including:
- Configuring/reconfiguring the FPGA.
- Monitoring the FPGA temperature, controlling fans, shutting down power if entering an over-temp situation.
- Adjusting the core voltage.
- Controlling the on-board PLL to set required clock frequency.
- Allowing power cycling of the FPGA target.
- USB-serial ports for communication.
- Address/data bus which can be used as 30 computer-controller GPIO pins instead.
- Generic SPI interface.
This makes it simple to port new designs to the board. You can either use our example design with an integrated Python framework, or simply use basic serial port or bit-banging functionalists. The firmware for the microcontroller is open-source, and the python control logic is part of the open-source ChipWhisperer software.
Development of SoC like devices
The board includes several useful features for development of SoC like devices:
- 2x QSPI sockets - one with 1.8V fixed VCC, one with adjustable VCC.
- Standard JTAG headers that are compatible with most Arm & RISC-V debug probes.
- USB with PHY chip.
- PMOD headers
- Spare I/O headers that mate to 0.05" IDC cables.
- DDR3 memory.
- SRAM memory.
Power Analysis and Fault Injection Testing Features
The board also contains multiple features specific to power analysis and fault injection testing:
- Multi-stage filtering of VCC-INT power supplies to reduce noise.
- On-board inductive "shunt" for power measurements.
- On-board LNA for improved SNR of power measurements.
- Bridgeable test points for performing other operations with VCC-INT supply.
- Cross-flow fans allow access to die for EM probing or EMFI fault injection.
- SMA connectors for voltage fault injection.
Shipping Contents
The board ships with the main board, along with three USB-C cables, and two USB-C to USB-A adapters. The three USB-C ports on the board provide:
- USB control for programming FPGA, setting voltage, setting clock frequency.
- USB-C PD input (optional - does not ship with USB-PD power brick).
- USB-C port configured for USB 2.0 operation from the FPGA.
A 12V universal power supply is included. This ships with EU and US options - Select ‘UK’ Plug Option if you also require the UK plug.
The larger K410T also includes a second fan which can be mounted onto the heatsink. This is not included with the smaller K160T FPGA.
