book

Getting Started with FPGAs

Name: Getting Started with FPGAs
Author: Russell Merrick
ISBN: 9781718502949

by Russell Merrick

November 2023

Beginner

320 pages

8h 19m

English

No Starch Press

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Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
About the Author and Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Is This Book For?What This Book Isn’tWhat’s in the Book?What You’ll NeedOnline Resources
1. Meet the FPGA
A Brief History of FPGAsPopular FPGA ApplicationsComparing Common Digital Logic ComponentsFPGAs vs. MicrocontrollersFPGAs vs. ASICsFPGAs vs. Microcontrollers vs. ASICsVerilog and VHDLSummary
2. Setting Up Your Hardware and Tools
Choosing an FPGA Development BoardRequirements for the BookSetting Up Your Development EnvironmentiCEcube2Diamond ProgrammerProject #1: Wiring Switches to LEDsWriting the CodeCreating a New iCEcube2 ProjectAdding Pin ConstraintsRunning the BuildConnecting Your Development BoardProgramming the FPGASummary
3. Boolean Algebra and the Look-Up Table
Logic Gates and Their Truth TablesAND GatesOR GatesNOT GatesXOR GatesNAND GatesOther GatesCombining Gates with Boolean AlgebraThe Look-Up TableProject #2: Lighting an LED with Logic GatesWriting the CodeBuilding and Programming the FPGASummary
4. Storing State with the Flip-Flop
How a Flip-Flop WorksThe Clock SignalA Flip-Flop in ActionA Chain of Flip-FlopsProject #3: Blinking an LEDWriting the CodeAdding ConstraintsBuilding and Programming the FPGACombinational Logic vs. Sequential LogicThe Dangers of LatchesResetting a Flip-FlopLook-Up Tables and Flip-Flops on a Real FPGASummary

5. Testing Your Code with Simulation
Why Simulation MattersFPGA Simulation ToolsThe TestbenchWriting a TestbenchRunning a Testbench and Viewing WaveformsProject #4: Debouncing a SwitchMeasuring Time on an FPGAWriting the CodeCreating the Testbench and SimulationBuilding and Programming the FPGASelf-Checking TestbenchesInitial Signal ConditionsOn-FPGA DebuggingVerificationSummary
6. Common Fpga Modules
Multiplexers and DemultiplexersImplementing a MultiplexerImplementing a DemultiplexerThe Shift RegisterDelaying DataConverting Between Serial and Parallel DataCreating a Linear Feedback Shift RegisterProject #5: Selectively Blinking an LEDWriting the CodeTrying Another WayComparing the Two ApproachesRandom Access MemoryA RAM ImplementationRAM on an FPGAFIFO: First In, First OutInput and Output SignalsA FIFO ImplementationSummary
7. Synthesis, Place and Route, and Crossing Clock Domains
SynthesisNotes, Warnings, and ErrorsNon-synthesizable CodePlace and RouteConstraintsTiming ErrorsCrossing Clock DomainsCrossing from Slower to FasterCrossing from Faster to SlowerUsing a FIFOAddressing Timing ErrorsSummary
8. The State Machine
States, Transitions, and EventsImplementing a State MachineUsing Two always or process BlocksUsing One always or process BlockTesting the DesignState Machine Best PracticesProject #6: Creating a Memory GamePlanning the State MachineOrganizing the DesignUsing the Seven-Segment DisplayCoding the Top-Level ModuleCoding the State MachineTesting the Memory GameAdding the Pin ConstraintsBuilding and Programming the FPGASummary
9. Useful FPGA Primitives
How to Create PrimitivesInstantiationThe GUI ApproachThe Block RAMFeatures and LimitationsCreationThe Digital Signal Processing BlockAnalog vs. Digital SignalsCommon DSP TasksFeaturesCreationThe Phase-Locked LoopHow It WorksCreationSummary
10. Numbers and Math
Numerical Data TypesRepresenting Signed vs. Unsigned ValuesTaking the Two’s ComplementSizing Signals AppropriatelyConverting Between Types in VHDLPerforming Mathematical OperationsAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationMultiplication by Powers of 2DivisionHow FPGAs Implement Math OperationsWorking with DecimalsAdding and Subtracting with Fixed PointMultiplying with Fixed PointSummary
11. Getting Data in and Out with I/O and Serdes
Working with GPIO PinsI/O BuffersElectrical CharacteristicsFaster Data Transmission with Double Data RateSerDesParallel vs. Serial CommunicationSelf-Clocking SignalsHow SerDes WorksSummary
A. FPGA Development Boards
The Nandland Go BoardThe Lattice iCEstickThe Alchitry CuSwitching Between Boards
B. Tips for a Career in FPGA Engineering
The ResumeThe InterviewThe Job Offer and NegotiationSummary
Glossary
Index

Content preview from Getting Started with FPGAs

`A` `FPGA DEVELOPMENT BOARDS`

This appendix lists a few example FPGA development boards that you can use to work on the projects in this book. A dev board that you can program is a valuable learning tool. There’s nothing more satisfying than blinking LEDs, pushing buttons, and interfacing to external devices! You can certainly learn a lot from this book without completing the practical examples. But to really unlock its value I recommend purchasing a board, such as one of the devices mentioned here, and working through all of the projects using physical hardware.

In Chapter 2 we discussed some criteria for selecting a board, including the features ...

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Getting Started with FPGAs

by Russell Merrick

`A` `FPGA DEVELOPMENT BOARDS`

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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