Exploring FPGAs

RE: Exploring FPGAs

billabott — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 03:29:06 GMT

I was thinking about a booster pack to add a FPGA to the Stellaris Launchpad (EK-LM4F120XL). How difficult are the power supply issues for home made fpga boards? I found this on TI site: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/snva267a/snva267a.pdf . Also is their a possiblity of using the TI USB programmer to update the FPGA on the booster pack by moving a jumper or something instead of using the regular ISCP for the FPGA? I have gathered that the FPGA has high value currently in achieving quick updates to graphical display screens. Are there other areas in robotics/automation where the speed of FPGA meets the need for speed?

Likely Useful Resource: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slaa535a/slaa535a.pdf

RE: Exploring FPGAs

billabott — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 02:58:13 GMT

First came www.fpga4fun.com.

Not to be forgotten is the real purpose of digital automation: Arcade Games!

http://www.fpgaarcade.com/ using FPGA.

RE: Exploring FPGAs

billabott — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 02:44:48 GMT

I have discovered how to purchase the UP2 Education Board from Altera with supporting CD and extras for $149.00. http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/book/up2form.pdf

That may be old dated info so the true source may actually be:

http://www.altera.com/education/univ/members/purchase/unv-purchase-info.html?GSA_pos=1&WT.oss_r=1&WT.oss=university%20program%20order%20form

RE: Exploring FPGAs

billabott — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 02:25:07 GMT

No Drooling allowed!

http://www.dinigroup.com/new/DNBFC_S12_12_Cluster.php

RE: Exploring FPGAs

shabaz — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 23:35:01 GMT

Hi William,

That's great! Glad that you got through the toolchain bit. It's not easy (at least, not with Xilinx).

I too have just tried your code on Xilinx tools, and will soon try it on a CPLD board. It's also possible to simulate it (by writing a testbench) but I'm not sure how to do that in verilog, I've only done it in VHDL.

To alter the blinking there are a few ways for example either the input pin clock could be slowed down or sped up (but that requires a crystal change!), or the speed could be halved or doubled by changing the assign LED = count[23] line up or down, but for more flexibility, it is possible to synthesize more logic. For example, it is possible to use statements like

assign LED = (count==24'd100)?1'b0:1'b1; which can conditionally set the LED output. By the way, I just found this link which may be useful. It seems at least as good as my textbook (which is quite basic).