Getting started with CPLDs – Index

RE: Getting started with CPLDs – Index

michaelkellett — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 09:30:48 GMT

The CPLDFPGAprog document is VERY dated and contains many unsupported (and in my opinion) unsupportable assertions. It doesn't mention the two interesting players in CPLDs (Lattice and Silego) who are the only companies that I know of who are still developing new CPLD type chips.

About the only reason for using ancient Xilinx or Altera CPLD style chips now is the one mentioned by John, they fit into low cost through hole sockets. (Although it's quite easy to get very cheap break out boards: eg ALTERA FPGA Cyslonell EP2C5T144 Minimum System Learning Board Development Board-in Other Electronic Components from Elec… £10.73 for one,, free shipping).

RE: Getting started with CPLDs – Index

johnbeetem — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:59:49 GMT

If you like Xilinx, check out Guzunty Pi: https://github.com/Guzunty/Pi/wiki

The kit with all through-hole parts is GBP10 plus shipping in the UK, or from e-bay in the USA for US$17 (one left). You can also get bare boards if you'd rather buy your own parts. Guzunty uses the Xilinx XC9536XL or XC9572XL CPLD, which is a very nice 3.3V part with 5V-tolerant I/Os. The chip is still available as a PLCC44 so you can plug it into a socket with 0.1" pinout for easy through-hole soldering.

I haven't used Guzunty Pi personally, but I've used the XC9536/72XL for many designs and it's a great part.

RE: Getting started with CPLDs – Index

clem57 — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:41:20 GMT

Here is a good first timer's view of using CPUD:

My 1st CPLD project using the Xilinx XC9536