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Messages from 113075

Article: 113075
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: Ben Twijnstra <btwijnstra@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:37:01 +0100
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
wanwan wrote:

> I'm looking into buying the fpga and/or cpld starter kits. I was
> wondering if the logic chips can be taken out of the development board
> after they are programmed.

If you look at the DigiLab Picomax from El Camino (see
http://www.elcamino.de/Products/prod dpicomaxe.html) you will see that it
uses a PLCC socket. Thus, with the right tool (a small teaspoon or a
horribly expensive PLCC removal thingie) you should be able to remove the
CPLD from the board.

I don't know of any other eval boards where the device can then be taken off
the board.

Best regards,


Ben


Article: 113076
Subject: Re: Spartan-3A launched
From: "Göran Bilski" <goran.bilski@xilinx.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 08:44:57 +0100
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
MicroBlaze will utilize the byte-write capability of the new BRAMs in S3A 
for caches and for local memory.

Göran Bilski

"Antti Lukats" <antti@openchip.org> wrote in message 
news:el4idi$l3b$1@online.de...
> "Steve Knapp (Xilinx Spartan-3 Generation FPGAs)" <steve.knapp@xilinx.com> 
> schrieb im Newsbeitrag 
> news:1165347583.878327.14740@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>> Antti Lukats wrote:
>>> "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
>>> news:1165318595.041905.299450@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>>> > Antti schrieb:
>>> >
>> [... snip ...]
>>> > and, I really really wonder how Xilinx has managed to get
>>> > a MicroBlaze to fit into 75% of Spartan-3A !!!
>>>
>>> UUUUUUUPS my BAD!
>>>
>>> the 75% LUT useage of Microblaze SoC in S3A-50 is truly correct
>>>
>>> test design for S3-50 shows (Microblaze 4, LMB RAM, OPB UART)
>>>
>>>   Number of Slice Flip Flops:         335 out of   1,536   21%
>>>   Number of 4 input LUTs:             842 out of   1,536   54%
>>>
>>> S3A-50 has 1408 LUTs so it means 59,8 % of LUT's nt 75!
>>>
>>> sorry for my bad statement, I have had recently trouble fitting
>>> MB systems into S3e-100 so I somehow assumed the 75% of
>>> s3a-50 just cant be possible.
>>>
>>> Antti
>>
>> While I haven't tried this myself, I expect that the difference is the
>> enhanced 18K block RAMs on Spartan-3A FPGAs.
>>
>> Essentially, all Spartan-3, Spartan-3E, and Spartan-3A FPGAs have the
>> same 18 Kbit block RAM.  However, Spartan-3A FPGAs add byte-level write
>> enables for the 1Kx18 and the 512x36 organizations.  See pages 153-154
>> in the Spartan-3 Generation User Guide.
>> http://www.xilinx.com/bvdocs/userguides/ug331.pdf
>>
>> The MicroBlaze controller uses byte-level write operations.  These are
>> emulated in Spartan-3 and Spartan-3E FPGAs with additional logic.  On
>> Spartan-3 FPGAs, the entire design is simplified and more optimal.
>>
>> ---------------------------------
>> Steven K. Knapp
>> Applications Manager, Xilinx Inc.
>> General Products Division
>> Spartan-3/-3E FPGAs
>> http://www.xilinx.com/spartan3e
>> E-mail: steve.knapp@xilinx.com
>> ---------------------------------
>> The Spartan(tm)-3 Generation:  The World's Lowest-Cost FPGAs.
>>
> Hi Steve,
>
> you are nottop at MicroBlaze tech details - the byte enables on BRAMs
> are NEVER emulated by the current EDK tools, thats why the minimum
> BRAM size for S-3 s 8K, all BRAM blocks are required to have minimum
> 4 BRAMs so each bytelane has its own BRAM and no emulation is necessary
>
> surprisingle the open-source OpenFire MicroBlaze clone DOES support byte
> writes to single BRAM, because of that OpenFire is useable with S3A with
> current EDK tool versions that do not support yet S3A byte write feature - 
> this
> prevents EDK 8.2 to be used to target S3A-50 because it has only 3 BRAMs
>
> not to mention that DATA2MEM doesnt support S3A at all, here again the
> OpenFire includes methods to retrive the BRAM locate info from .LL files
> post implementation so using that method and custom bitfile patch program
> a MicroBlaze design in S3A would be possible even today - even before
> Xilinx releases full support for S3A in their tools.
>
> Antti
>
>
> 



Article: 113077
Subject: Re: Spartan-3A launched
From: lb.edc@telenet.be
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 07:59:15 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Peter,

You can always try to look at it from the other side:
Altera might be spending their money by taking the prices from their
devices down. As for Xilinx and Actel, well, they will probably be
more expensive?
And you didn't mention Lattice nor Quicklogic. They must be the
cheapest as they don't advertise... :o))

Luc

On 5 Dec 2006 14:05:00 -0800, "Peter Alfke" <peter@xilinx.com> wrote:

>Antti, regarding Electronica (the biggest electronic component show in
>the world):
>
>the Actel booth was indeed surprisingly large and flat, and fairly
>empty.
>The Xilinx booth was more vertical and more crowded, also more crowded
>with customers and with serious conferences with customers. So we are
>quite happy (I was there).
>I am however amazed that Actel finds the money for such a large number
>of square meters...
>Altera, by the way, was hiding in a tiny cubicle next to some
>automotive guys, in a different hall.
>Everybody has different ideas about spending effort and money at
>shows...
>Peter Alfke, Xilinx
>
>On Dec 5, 11:31 am, "Antti Lukats" <a...@openchip.org> wrote:
>> "Steve Knapp (Xilinx Spartan-3 Generation FPGAs)" <steve.kn...@xilinx.com>
>> schrieb im Newsbeitragnews:1165346298.454531.194840@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > Antti wrote:
>> >> Antti schrieb:
>>
>> >> > as Xilinx PR ES samples are available, and tools support for S3A also,
>>
>> >> as usual - the documentation is not complete :(
>>
>> > [... snip ...]
>>
>> >> Antti
>>
>> > Hi Antti,
>>
>> > There was about a 2-3 hour span last night when the Spartan-3A
>> > technical documentation wasn't yet available on the Xilinx web site.
>> > The nearly 1,000 pages of documentation all went live about 11 PM
>> > Pacific time on 4-DEC-2006.[..]
>> no problems, I actually found all i was looking for, but I had already
>> posted before
>>
>> > You may also be interested in the associated article discussing how to
>> > use the Device DNA.
>>
>> > How to implement high-security in low-cost FPGAs
>> >http://www.pldesignline.com/howto/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196601422
>>
>> > ---------------------------------
>> > Steven K. Knapp
>> > Applications Manager, Xilinx Inc.
>> > General Products Division
>> > Spartan-3/-3E FPGAs
>> >http://www.xilinx.com/spartan3e
>> > E-mail: steve.kn...@xilinx.com
>> > ---------------------------------
>> > The Spartan(tm)-3 Generation:  The World's Lowest-Cost FPGAs.Steven - you arent working for Altera?
>>
>> I clicked on the link to plddesignline and got a big flashing Altera
>> Stratix-III AD flyer !!
>> ok, well its beyound your control, but was amusing.
>> similarly as it was amysing to come to Xilinx booth at Electronica2006, all
>> it was to
>> see was a big Actel Logo as their booth was just befor Xilinx and way more
>> visible.
>> 
>> Antti

Article: 113078
Subject: Re: Spartan-3A launched
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 00:13:59 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
G=F6ran Bilski schrieb:

> MicroBlaze will utilize the byte-write capability of the new BRAMs in S3A
> for caches and for local memory.
>
> G=F6ran Bilski
>
sure - in EDK 9.1 and MB 6.0
with the current EDK 8.2 I asssume the LMB memory for S3A MB would have
to be handcrafted

Antti


Article: 113079
Subject: Re: How to check high impedance of a RAM with Logic Analyzer
From: zhongqiang.cheng@gmail.com
Date: 6 Dec 2006 00:30:42 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi,

I see it. Thanks so much, your guys.

Regards,
Cheng


Article: 113080
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: Jim Granville <no.spam@designtools.maps.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:49:43 +1300
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Ben Twijnstra wrote:
> wanwan wrote:
> 
> 
>>I'm looking into buying the fpga and/or cpld starter kits. I was
>>wondering if the logic chips can be taken out of the development board
>>after they are programmed.
> 
> 
> If you look at the DigiLab Picomax from El Camino (see
> http://www.elcamino.de/Products/prod dpicomaxe.html) you will see that it
> uses a PLCC socket. Thus, with the right tool (a small teaspoon or a
> horribly expensive PLCC removal thingie) you should be able to remove the
> CPLD from the board.
> 
> I don't know of any other eval boards where the device can then be taken off
> the board.

The Atmel ATF15xx-DK3 has daughter cards, with ZIF sockets
[ so you can leave the teaspoon in your coffee :)  ]

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3868

The different ZIF's support PLCC44, TQFP44, TQFP100 etc

Kits are on Digikey for $112, and IIRC that gives
1 x TQFP44 Zif, and the Parallel Port - 10W ISP cable + SW.
( these support the new ATF1502BE / ATF1504ASL )

These starter kits do not support vector Testing, for that you
need a device programmer.

The Zif sockets are $$$ and rare, so we are making an adaptor PCB that
morphs a -DK3 ZIF into a Programmer ZIF.

-jg


Article: 113081
Subject: Re: Spartan-3A launched
From: "Göran Bilski" <goran.bilski@xilinx.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 10:32:35 +0100
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Microblaze v5.00.b is using the S3A's byte-enables for the caches.
I need to check what the local memory does for Spartan3A.

Göran

"Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com> wrote in message 
news:1165392839.645440.267760@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Göran Bilski schrieb:

> MicroBlaze will utilize the byte-write capability of the new BRAMs in S3A
> for caches and for local memory.
>
> Göran Bilski
>
sure - in EDK 9.1 and MB 6.0
with the current EDK 8.2 I asssume the LMB memory for S3A MB would have
to be handcrafted

Antti



Article: 113082
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: "alterauser" <fpgaengineerfrankfurt@arcor.de>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 03:09:13 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Apart from the fact, that Xilinx-based starterkits appear to be
cheaper, I recommend to go with a e.g. S3D kit which is here around
134,- and has really more than necessary to start with FPGA. There is
also no need to "take out" the FPGA to place in another system. ou can
drop the entire EVAL-board into a prototype system :-)   (not really
kidding, I am doing this currently)

But If you intend to stay with Altera, you should have a look at the
cycloneII board named "HPE AC II mini" from "Gleichmann Research" in
Austria. It starts from =80299,- (avnet-price) and is ready for large
uc-based designes especially with the bundled LEON 32bit-soft core. It
has SRAM Socket and a large and fast FPGA, so this board is hard to
exceed with start up design. (Spartan is much smaller)


Article: 113083
Subject: Re: Spartan-3A launched
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 03:23:39 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
G=F6ran Bilski schrieb:

> Microblaze v5.00.b is using the S3A's byte-enables for the caches.
> I need to check what the local memory does for Spartan3A.
>
> G=F6ran
>
Hi G=F6ran,

I have been really disappointed that Xilinx claims Virtex-5 and
Spartan-3A software tool support being available today, while the
latest Data2mem does not support Spartan3A at all, and only supports
LX50 from the Virtex-5

based on that I also assumed (without checking) that EDK 8.2 does not
yet support S3A RAMB16BWE base block ram elaboration, but here I was
wrong - it does, here is utilization report targetting S3-50A 2KB LMB
RAM (must use Byte write enables!) and OPB UART


Total Number 4 input LUTs:          1,195 out of   1,408   84%
  Number used as logic:                848
  Number used as a route-thru:           5
  Number used for Dual Port RAMs:      256
    (Two LUTs used per Dual Port RAM)
  Number used as Shift registers:       86
  Number of bonded IOBs:                4 out of     108    3%
    IOB Flip Flops:                     2
  Number of GCLKs:                     1 out of      24    4%
  Number of DCMs:                      1 out of       2   50%
  Number of RAMB16BWEs:                 1 out of       3   33%

the LUT utilization is is 84% not 75% Xilinx claims, but maybe MB ver
6=2E0 brings some more size reduction, this report is with MB v 4.00.b

Antti who still hopes to see ISE 8.2 SP4 released this year with fixed
DATA2MEM supporting V5 and S3A


Article: 113084
Subject: Re: Xilinx MPMC2 "External Ports" question
From: "Guru" <ales.gorkic@email.si>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 04:02:08 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Ed,

What are you doing?
Do not try to change anything of the MPMC2 core!
If there is no connection to NPI port, just it coment it in MHS:
# BUS_INTERFACE MPMC2_PIM_4 = npi

I created NPI peripherals with single write (64bits), 4 words (2x
64bits) cacheline write and 64 words write (the fastest xfer). The
declaration of NPI port should look like in MPMC2 MPD.

The NPI port is very handy bus to connect peripherals that require fast
and simple DMA access - huraa for the Xilinx MPMC2 team.

Cheers,

Guru

ed_h wrote:
> HI Antti,
>
>    First and foremost, thank you for the reply!
>
>    I tried your suggestion at first, but when I go to build the netlist
> in EDK after connecting the ports using your suggested method, I get
> this error:
>
> ERROR:MDT - mpmc2_ddr_idpon_100mhz_x16_mt46v16m16_6t
>    (mpmc2_ddr_idpon_100mhz_x16_mt46v16m16_6t_0) -
>    C:\projects\test_single_npi\system.mhs line 235 - transparent bus
> interface
>    connector 'npi_4' is only referenced once!
>
>    That is why I started editing the MPD and started removing the
> transparent bus parameters and the like.  I should have been a little
> clearer in my initial post, but just let me blame that on my
> inexperience with EDK :) .
>
>     When I remove the transparent bus types from the MPD, I get this
> warning when I generate the block diagram :
>
> WARNING:MDT - Bridge mpmc2_ddr_idponn_100mhz_x16_mt46v16m16_6t_0 is
> connected to
>    more than two busses
> WARNING:MDT - This condition is not handled by layout algorithm
>
>     Now I am starting to wonder if "layout" means layout of the block
> diagram.....for whatever stupid reason, I associated "layout" with
> "place and route" since I used to "layout" ASICs for a living a long,
> long time ago :)!  If all this means is that my block diagram is
> incorrect (which it is after I remove the transparent bus), I can most
> definitely live with that...
>
>     Again, many thanks!  I'll be sure to post the solution to my
> problem should I figure it out :)!
>
> Ed
>
>
>
>
>
> Antti Lukats wrote:
> > "ed_h" <ehenciak@gmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > news:1165351478.866080.261170@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > >   Has anyone ever had success routing an NPI port of the MPMC2
> > > controller to an External Port of a PPC based system component in EDK
> >
> > 1) dont change the MPD
> > 2) in EDK set port visible filter "all"
> > you should see all ports of all cores, and you can make any of then exertnal
> > 
> > Antti


Article: 113085
Subject: Re: RLOC weirdness
From: Brian Drummond <brian_drummond@btconnect.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:30:35 +0000
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
On Tue, 5 Dec 2006 16:51:24 +0000 (UTC), Andreas Ehliar
<ehliar@isy.liu.se> wrote:

>I'm just wondering if anyone here has seen the same problem I'm
>running into. I have a design where I'm playing around a bit with
>RLOC. The layout of the design should be something like this:
>
>
>   AAAA          BBBB
>   AAAA          BBBB
>   AAAA          BBBB
>   AAAA          BBBB
>
>
>   CCCC          DDDD
>   CCCC          DDDD
>   CCCC          DDDD
>   CCCC          DDDD
>

>However, when I look in the floorplanner, the modules look
>something like the following after place & route:
>
>
>   AAAA          BBBBB
>  A AAAA        BBBBB
>   A AA          BBBB
>   AAAA          BB
>
>                  D
>   CCCC           DDD
>  CCCCC          DDDD
>   CCC C         DD DD
>    CCC          DDDD
>
>The funny thing is that everything is still one giant RPM according
>to the floorplanner. I don't think that I've made a mistake in the
>RLOC placement since I should get the same shape for all of the
>module instantiations in that case if I've understood things 
>correctly.

In addition to the documented weirdnesses as described by Ray Andraka,
the floorplanner certainly used to have problems with hierarchical
RLOCs. I raised several Webcases regarding them, and was told either 
yes they are bugs; or yes they are bugs, scheduled to be fixed in 
ISE 7.1.

See (from circa Jan 2005, a thread called "ISE Toolflow : hardmacro,
incremental or modular")

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.arch.fpga/browse_frm/thread/692df66024ec546e/a07c273f4568ddc8?tvc=1&q=comp.arch.fpga+floorplanner+Brian+Drummond#a07c273f4568ddc8

http://www.shapes.demon.co.uk/files/crashme.zip contains a demo using
RLOC and RLOC_ORIGIN in which only one of eight RPMs was correctly
placed in 6.1sp3 floorplanner. (Admittedly two of them had illegal
placements for some of the reasons Ray mentioned)

There were at least two tool bugs then; I wonder if they were fixed buit
came back, or if new ones have appeared in this area. I gave up then,
and haven't had time (or an excuse) to try the test case on newer tools.

I'm going to try this test case on 7.1 today; I don't plan to install
8.x until the current project is complete.

>So I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of what could be wrong. I've
>had an issue with ISE 8.2 (SP3) where some RLOCs just disappeared
>if I instantiated the same module several times so I've gone back
>to ISE 8.1 (SP3).
>
>Are the tools allowed to move individual parts of an RPM? If so,
>what can I do to avoid this issue?

At one time, they certainly did things they weren't supposed to. Either
all these issues have been fixed, or you will have to find out how to
work around the current crop of bugs.

- Brian


Article: 113086
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: "wanwan" <ericwan78@yahoo.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 04:47:59 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
What I really need to do is to program a chip to have a logic circuit,
so that I can use it elsewhere.  I am considering this approach rather
than building with an IC circuit.  Can anyone give me suggestions
please?


Article: 113087
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 04:54:07 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>

wanwan schrieb:

> What I really need to do is to program a chip to have a logic circuit,
> so that I can use it elsewhere.  I am considering this approach rather
> than building with an IC circuit.  Can anyone give me suggestions
> please?

http://www.oho-elektronik.de/index.php?c=1&s=product1

plugin DIP modules with CPLD or FPGA on it


Article: 113088
Subject: Re: Virtex-4 ML403 16x2 LCD
From: Sean Durkin <news_dec06@durkin.de>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:01:18 +0100
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Shela wrote:
> I realize that the LCD i/o is connected to the GPIO so is there any way
> i can use the on board LCD?
Yes, but it requires some work. There is a controller chip on the LCD. I
don't know which one it is on the ML403, but most of the time it's
something like the HD44780 (just google for the datasheet). You'll have
to look in the ML403 User Guide, the kind of LCD controller should be
mentioned there.

After power-up, you have to initialize the LCD first. The neccessary
initialization sequence is shown in the datasheet. Basically that means
you have to toggle the IOs that connect to the LCD in a specific way
with specific pauses in between, i.e. you need a little state machine
that performs the startup sequence.

After that you again need to send a specific sequence for every
character you want to display (i.e. send a "print charcter"-command to
the LCD).

The alternative is to do it in software, e.g. include a PowerPC or
MicroBlaze in the design and write a C-program to do it. There are
probably example designs for the ML403 that do this.

cu,
Sean

-- 
My email address is only valid until the end of the month.
Go figure what the address is going to be after that...

Article: 113089
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: lb.edc@telenet.be
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:01:32 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
If the logic circuit is not too complex, you can concider any CPLD
ranging from 32 macrocells to 1000 MC (in some cases).

Another approach would be to use Altera's MaxII or Lattice's MachXO.
Unfortunately you will have to deal with BGA packages for the larger
devices and high IO count. If I'm not mistaken both MaxII and MachXO
have a TQFP100 package for the whole range.

The last approach is a non volatile FPGA. Only Lattice's XP and
Actel's ProASIC3 provide a practical solution. The functions you can
implement in these devices can be very big.

All devices mentioned are in system programmable.

Regards,

Luc

On 6 Dec 2006 04:47:59 -0800, "wanwan" <ericwan78@yahoo.com> wrote:

>What I really need to do is to program a chip to have a logic circuit,
>so that I can use it elsewhere.  I am considering this approach rather
>than building with an IC circuit.  Can anyone give me suggestions
>please?

Article: 113090
Subject: Re: RLOC weirdness
From: Ray Andraka <ray@andraka.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:13:21 -0500
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Brian Drummond wrote:

> See (from circa Jan 2005, a thread called "ISE Toolflow : hardmacro,
> incremental or modular")
> 
> http://groups.google.com/group/comp.arch.fpga/browse_frm/thread/692df66024ec546e/a07c273f4568ddc8?tvc=1&q=comp.arch.fpga+floorplanner+Brian+Drummond#a07c273f4568ddc8
> 
> http://www.shapes.demon.co.uk/files/crashme.zip contains a demo using
> RLOC and RLOC_ORIGIN in which only one of eight RPMs was correctly
> placed in 6.1sp3 floorplanner. (Admittedly two of them had illegal
> placements for some of the reasons Ray mentioned)
> 
> There were at least two tool bugs then; I wonder if they were fixed buit
> came back, or if new ones have appeared in this area. I gave up then,
> and haven't had time (or an excuse) to try the test case on newer tools.
> 
> I'm going to try this test case on 7.1 today; I don't plan to install
> 8.x until the current project is complete.
> 
> 

> 
> At one time, they certainly did things they weren't supposed to. Either
> all these issues have been fixed, or you will have to find out how to
> work around the current crop of bugs.
> 
> - Brian
> 

The floorplanner bugs are still there, which makes it hard to use as a 
placer.  Instead, I have been placing the RPMs in a UCF and using 
floorplanner to view the placements.  It has been this way for a while 
with Xilinx promising to fix it next release.  I'm not holding my breath.

There is another reason the RPMs will do this that is related to the 
mapper.  The mapper has a bug that does not account for the columns 
correctly when an RPM straddles a non-LUT column (DSP48, BRAM or 
BRAM/MULT18 column).  The net result is it winds up causing the same 
problem I described in my earlier post even if you have the RPM 
constructed properly.  It is a real problem for RPMs in a V4SX family 
part since it practically limits the size of your RPM to 4 slice columns.

Article: 113091
Subject: Re: Altera starter kits
From: "Derek Simmons" <dereks314@gmail.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 05:15:53 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>

wanwan wrote:
> What I really need to do is to program a chip to have a logic circuit,
> so that I can use it elsewhere.  I am considering this approach rather
> than building with an IC circuit.  Can anyone give me suggestions
> please?

If you don't mind using a Xilinx device, check out XESS website
(http://www.xess.com) their boards can be placed in circuit and last I
knew, worked with Xilinx's web pack distribution. I've seen these
integrated in low volume commercial products and prototypes.


Article: 113092
Subject: Timing constraint on DCM input ignored after update ISE 8.1 -> 8.2?
From: Philip Herzog <phd@arcor.de>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:01:06 +0100
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi!

I have two desings here, both use the same generic processor interface
which includes a DLL. The input pin for the DLL is constrained in the
ucf-File:

NET "pciclk" TNM_NET = "clk";
TIMESPEC "TS_clk" = PERIOD "clk" 30.3 ns HIGH 50 %;

With ISE 8.1.02i this worked fine, the result looked something like this:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
TS_clk = PERIOD TIMEGRP "clk"| 30.300ns | 5.199ns | 1 | 25.101ns | 0
30.3 ns HIGH 50%             |          |         |   |          |
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I upgraded to ISE 8.2.03i and the constraint is ignored:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
TS_clk = PERIOD TIMEGRP "clk"| N/A      | N/A     | N/A | N/A | N/A
30.3 ns HIGH 50%             |          |         |     |     |
--------------------------------------------------------------------

No changes in the design were made. It is used on a Spartan3 and runs
well in spite of the ignored constraint.

I've found, read and (I think) understood
http://www.xilinx.com/xlnx/xil_ans_display.jsp?iLanguageID=1&iCountryID=1&getPagePath=6905
but I don't get the stated error and I think I meet the conditions:
"clk" is only used in these two lines in the ucf
"pciclk" is only used here and in BEFORE/AFTER constraints.

I also found /Xilinx/doc/usenglish/books/docs/cgd/cgd.pdf but as I
didn't understand it very well and what I did didn't tell me anything new.

Any hints what goes wrong here?

-   Philip

Article: 113093
Subject: Re: Readback Jtag Problem
From: "Gabor" <gabor@alacron.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 06:04:35 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>

phoenix wrote:
> When I make the readback on the Spartan II concerning a configuration's
> bitstream which changes the state of some flip flop, the returned
> bitstream is not the current one but starting bitstream whitout changes.

How are you reading the bitstream?  Do you use iMPACT?  How
do you know the bitstream hasn't changed?  Is it your own comparison
software or iMPACT "verify"?

If you use "verify" in iMPACT you should realize that the bitstream is
masked with the .msk file generated along with the .bit file in your
project.  Once masked, the resulting verify operation will not compare
the bits corresponding to the changing state.  It only uses bits such
as LUT functions and routing that do not change once the design
starts running.


Article: 113094
Subject: EDK 8.2, MDM, and ChipScope....
From: "motty" <mottoblatto@yahoo.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 06:32:08 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Alright....here we go.

I was working with an EDK 8.2 project that had both an MDM module and
ChipScope connected.  ChipScope was working fine.  I then tried to go
debug some software and started XMD.  It failed to connect.  Since this
was just an EDK 7.1 ported project (that was known to work) I started
to look in the Answer Database for clues.  It ends up there was an
Answer that said to update the mdm core to 2.01.a (it had a link) and
change the '.opt' file associated with the XMD (that opt file is in the
/.../etc folder).  Ok, my mdm core was 2.00.a so I thought at least I
am on the right track since I am upgrading.  So I rebuild the project.
Lo and behold, XMD connects and I am able to debug software.

After figuring out software I wanted to start ChipScope and look at
some stuff.  Unfortunately, ChipScope no longer detected any cores.
WTF?!?  It was working fine!!  So I end up setting the mdm core back to
2.00.a and rebuilding.  After that, ChipScope worked fine as before.
XMD connects no problem.  However, the debugger does NOT work now.  It
opened and I hit 'Run'.  It started, but never hit any breakpoints.
And it SHOULD have.  So basically, I cannot get to a point where
ChipScope and the mdm work together.  I looked in the Answer Database
again, but could not find anything that would address both these
issues.

In older software versions there was no problem with this as long as
you remembered to tell ChipScope that an mdm module was in the system.
This parameter is now 'Auto Computed' in the EDK 8.2 (which I can not
stand compared to 7.1!).  In the process of all of this I installed the
latest Service Pack, so I am as updated as possible.  My team is
getting VERY TIRED and FRUSTRATED using these Xilinx tools that seem to
break things left and right when there is an upgrade.  Why in the hell
was the EDK basically redesigned when it just be nicer to have software
that works?  Seriously, I could see people jumping ship on Xilinx
products with all the pain and hassle of getting known good projects
back up and running whenever there is a software upgrade.

I am using an ML401 eval board that uses the Virtex4 LX25 FPGA.

Thanks.


Article: 113095
Subject: Xilinx PLB IPIF
From: "Ashish" <ashish.shringarpure@gmail.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 06:32:47 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi,

Is it possible to initiate 32 bit burst transactions on IPIF interface
in Xilinx PLB-IPIF ?

I am currently using 64 bit burst transactions on IPIF interface.

If anybody has worked or know such design then please let me know.


Thank You

Ashish


Article: 113096
Subject: Re: EDK 8.2, MDM, and ChipScope....
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 06:37:17 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
motty schrieb:

> Alright....here we go.
>
> I was working with an EDK 8.2 project that had both an MDM module and
> ChipScope connected.  ChipScope was working fine.  I then tried to go
> debug some software and started XMD.  It failed to connect.  Since this
> was just an EDK 7.1 ported project (that was known to work) I started
> to look in the Answer Database for clues.  It ends up there was an
> Answer that said to update the mdm core to 2.01.a (it had a link) and
> change the '.opt' file associated with the XMD (that opt file is in the
> /.../etc folder).  Ok, my mdm core was 2.00.a so I thought at least I
> am on the right track since I am upgrading.  So I rebuild the project.
> Lo and behold, XMD connects and I am able to debug software.
>
> After figuring out software I wanted to start ChipScope and look at
> some stuff.  Unfortunately, ChipScope no longer detected any cores.
> WTF?!?  It was working fine!!  So I end up setting the mdm core back to
> 2.00.a and rebuilding.  After that, ChipScope worked fine as before.
> XMD connects no problem.  However, the debugger does NOT work now.  It
> opened and I hit 'Run'.  It started, but never hit any breakpoints.
> And it SHOULD have.  So basically, I cannot get to a point where
> ChipScope and the mdm work together.  I looked in the Answer Database
> again, but could not find anything that would address both these
> issues.
>
> In older software versions there was no problem with this as long as
> you remembered to tell ChipScope that an mdm module was in the system.
> This parameter is now 'Auto Computed' in the EDK 8.2 (which I can not
> stand compared to 7.1!).  In the process of all of this I installed the
> latest Service Pack, so I am as updated as possible.  My team is
> getting VERY TIRED and FRUSTRATED using these Xilinx tools that seem to
> break things left and right when there is an upgrade.  Why in the hell
> was the EDK basically redesigned when it just be nicer to have software
> that works?  Seriously, I could see people jumping ship on Xilinx
> products with all the pain and hassle of getting known good projects
> back up and running whenever there is a software upgrade.
>
> I am using an ML401 eval board that uses the Virtex4 LX25 FPGA.
>
> Thanks.

if you have LX25-ES then you can not use chipscope and MDM
due to the silicon errata, as only USER1 is working so MDM and
chipscope
just can not co-exist in LX25-ES silicon

Antti
PS on your comments about software quality I stand your side fully.
FRUSTRATION


Article: 113097
Subject: Clock phase shift
From: "Ashish" <ashish.shringarpure@gmail.com>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 06:39:36 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi,

I need to phase shift (180 deg) an output clock(100MHz) , I have an
option of using DCM and with this it is possible.

Is there any alternative way of implementing clock shift by using any
ready component to implement phase shift.(Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGA). I wish
to avoid using a DCM resource.

I have used IDELAY component while phase shifting an incoming clock but
need similar alternative for o/p clock.

Any suggestions /comments welcome.

Thank you
Ashish


Article: 113098
Subject: Re: Readback Jtag Problem
From: "phoenix" <happy_pippo81@yahoo.it>
Date: 6 Dec 2006 07:00:01 -0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>

Gabor ha scritto:

> phoenix wrote:
> > When I make the readback on the Spartan II concerning a configuration's
> > bitstream which changes the state of some flip flop, the returned
> > bitstream is not the current one but starting bitstream whitout changes.
>
> How are you reading the bitstream?  Do you use iMPACT?  How
> do you know the bitstream hasn't changed?  Is it your own comparison
> software or iMPACT "verify"?
>
> If you use "verify" in iMPACT you should realize that the bitstream is
> masked with the .msk file generated along with the .bit file in your
> project.  Once masked, the resulting verify operation will not compare
> the bits corresponding to the changing state.  It only uses bits such
> as LUT functions and routing that do not change once the design
> starts running.
Dear Gabor
thank you for the info.
I do not use "IMPACT" but I have implemented a class library in java
for the "readback" using the JTAG TAP .
When I read bitstream i obtain the starting bitstream not the actually.


Article: 113099
Subject: Re: Clock phase shift
From: Alan Myler <amyler@eircom.net>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:02:22 +0000
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Ashish wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I need to phase shift (180 deg) an output clock(100MHz) , I have an
> option of using DCM and with this it is possible.
> 
> Is there any alternative way of implementing clock shift by using any
> ready component to implement phase shift.(Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGA). I wish
> to avoid using a DCM resource.
> 
> I have used IDELAY component while phase shifting an incoming clock but
> need similar alternative for o/p clock.
> 
> Any suggestions /comments welcome.
> 
> Thank you
> Ashish
> 
> 

Use an inverter?





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