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Hi, does anyone here have any info on the new Altera "cyclone" inexpensive chips? The only reference I've seen is http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/4133199.htm Thanks.Article: 47301
> : Really, the Xilinx tools work pretty good under Wine. I used to have a > : dual boot system, but Xilinx/Wine (as well as Actel/Wine, the other tool > : chain I use) has been working so well that I dumped Windows about 6 months. > > Duane, what is your option to download the bitstream to the FPGA under Linux? > > I looked hard at running impact.exe under wine, but as impact probably uses > a windriver.sys file to access the parallel port, it seems not feasable > with wine. It became extreamly simple to write your own download code since Linux includes the new parport driver. Here is one example http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=9i1146%24g90jk%241%40ID-31589.news.dfncis.de&rnum=3 And another one: http://groups.google.de/groups?q=bitstream+linux+group:comp.arch.fpga&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=3A9ACE4C.6922CAA5%40wanabe.nl&rnum=2 Here is some older code that does not use the parport driver: http://groups.google.de/groupsq=bitstream+linux+group:comp.arch.fpga&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=9muuu9%24s1d%241%40eng-ser1.erg.cuhk.edu.hk&rnum=1 BTW: These codes are a lot faster than impact. All these programs solve the problem described in http://support.xilinx.com/xlnx/xil_ans_display.jsp?iLanguageID=1&iCountryID=1&getPagePath=6545 while the solution given in answer 6545 does not fix it. Parallel Download Cable III has no instability problem! All the trouble with this cable reported in this newsgroup is due to Hardware Debugger software bugs. (A race condition that is correctly identified in the code activated by XIL_HWD_PCAB_FIX, but not fixed.) Kolja SulimmaArticle: 47302
Thank you very much, Christoph! I was looking into the *.csf.htm report and this information wasn't there. Interestingly my pin file doesn't have explanation about the GND* while it does about the GND+. But, this, I guess, is because I am not using the latest version of Quartus. Thank you again, /Mikhail From: Christoph Fritsch (christoph_fritsch@gmx.de) Subject: Re: Apex unused pins voluntarily assigned by Quartus? Newsgroups: comp.arch.fpga View this article only Date: 2002-09-20 09:34:03 PST Hi Mikhail, please read carefully through the pin-file you get from Quartus. It says: -- GND+ : Unused input. This pin should be connected to GND. It may also be connected to a valid signal on the board (low, high, or toggling) if that signal is required for a different revision of the design. -- GND* : Unused I/O pin. This pin can either be left unconnected or connected to GND. Connecting this pin to GND will improve the device's immunity to noise. This should answer the question on "what it means" To resever the FAST pins as input's (beeing tri-stated) go into the compiler settings dialog -> chips&devices -> assign pins. Select the pin and use a name you like (dummy1...3) and select "reseve pin even if it does not exist in the design" HTH Christoph --Article: 47303
set the timingChecksOn generic to false. Also, for the sake of synthesis put synthesis translate_off pragmas around the library unisim and the black box generics itsme wrote: > I want to simulate the Xilinx RAM16x1D > using Modelsim, but all Writes fail. > After writing to the RAM the Data in the Ram is invalid (DPO='X'). > I get Timing Errors: > > # ** Warning: */RAM16X1D SETUP High VIOLATION ON WE WITH RESPECT TO WCLK; > # Expected := 0.01 ns; Observed := 0 ns; At : 20 ns > # Time: 20 ns Iteration: 3 Instance: /test_sram/prg_ram > > But I like to do just funktional simulation. > So Setup und Hold times should not be checked > and the Functional Model should not rely on any Setup or Hold Times > Maybe I use the wrong LIBs? > Can anyone help? > thanks peter > > Here is my VHDL source: > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > LIBRARY ieee; > use IEEE.STD_LOGIC_1164.ALL; > use IEEE.STD_LOGIC_UNSIGNED.ALL; > use IEEE.STD_LOGIC_ARITH.ALL; > --synthesis translate_off > > library unisim; > use UNISIM.all; > --synthesis translate_on > entity test_sram is > end test_sram; > > architecture Behavioral of test_sram is > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > component RAM16X1D --synthesis translate_off > > generic ( > TimingChecksOn: Boolean := FALSE; --<<<<<< this should be false > InstancePath: STRING := "*"; --don't need this > Xon: Boolean := True;--don't need this > MsgOn: Boolean := False);--don't need this --synthesis translate_off > > port ( > WE : in std_logic; > D : in std_logic; > WCLK : in std_logic; > A0 : in std_logic; > A1 : in std_logic; > A2 : in std_logic; > A3 : in std_logic; > DPRA0 : in std_logic; > DPRA1 : in std_logic; > DPRA2 : in std_logic; > DPRA3 : in std_logic; > SPO : out std_logic; > DPO : out std_logic > ); > end component; attribute syn_black_box:boolean; attribute syn_black_box of RAM16x1D:component is TRUE; > > > signal WE : std_logic; > signal D: std_logic; > signal CLK:std_logic; > signal A:std_logic_vector(3 downto 0); > signal DPA:std_logic_vector(3 downto 0); > signal DPO:std_logic; > signal SPO:std_logic; > > begin > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > PRG_RAM: RAM16X1D > generic map(MsgOn => True) > > port map ( > WE => WE, > D => D, > WCLK =>CLK, > A0 =>A(0), > A1 =>A(1), > A2 =>A(2), > A3 =>A(3), > DPRA0 => DPA(0), > DPRA1 => DPA(1), > DPRA2 => DPA(2), > DPRA3 => DPA(3), > SPO => SPO, > DPO => DPO); > > process > begin > wait for 5 ns; > CLK <='0'; > wait for 5 ns; > CLK <='1'; > end process; > > process > begin > D<='1'; > A <="0001"; > DPA<="0000"; > WE<='0'; > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > > -- Write '1' to Location 1 > D<='1'; > WE<='1'; -- 1 auf adr 1 schreiben, Adr 0 lesen > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > WE<='0'; > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > -- here I get a 'X' as SPO !!!??? > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > > -- Read Location 1 > -- Here I get 'X' on DPO > -- but I want to see here '1' > DPA<="0001"; > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > wait until CLK'event and CLK='1'; > > wait; > end process; > > end Behavioral; -- --Ray Andraka, P.E. President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc. 401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950 email ray@andraka.com http://www.andraka.com "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin, 1759Article: 47304
http://www.altera.com/products/devices/cyclone/cyc-index.jsp?xy=hp1_cychp http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020923/sfm042_1.html - DS "cheponis" <mac@culver.net> wrote in message news:3D8EEC01.1000306@culver.net... > Hi, does anyone here have any info on the new Altera "cyclone" > inexpensive chips? > > The only reference I've seen is > http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/4133199.htm > > Thanks. >Article: 47305
Dear sirs, I would like to have a general idea about the MTBF of a FPGA. Thank you.Article: 47306
You will find the Altera press release here http://www.altera.com/corporate/news_room/releases/products/nr-cyclone.html?xy=whp1_cycpr Or you can start on the reading about the details here http://www.altera.com/products/devices/cyclone/cyc-index.jsp Looks like they are finally responding to Spartan. This can only be good for the users. cheponis wrote: > > Hi, does anyone here have any info on the new Altera "cyclone" > inexpensive chips? > > The only reference I've seen is > http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/4133199.htm > > Thanks. -- Rick "rickman" Collins rick.collins@XYarius.com Ignore the reply address. To email me use the above address with the XY removed. Arius - A Signal Processing Solutions Company Specializing in DSP and FPGA design URL http://www.arius.com 4 King Ave 301-682-7772 Voice Frederick, MD 21701-3110 301-682-7666 FAXArticle: 47307
hi all, has anybody done this using spartan-ii with - for example - an LVDS interface? What I require is a fast serial - bus like - connection between 3 or 4 electronic modules. Those modules are close to each other but in separate cabinets. I would like to use - let's say - RJ11 connector and cabling, the speed should be ~ 100 Mbps markusArticle: 47308
--------------ECABA1D0EF195B9C2B5A6EBF Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit http://support.xilinx.com/xlnx/xil_ans_display.jsp?iLanguageID=1&iCountryID=1&getPagePath=11768 answer number 11768. Austin Manuel Zaera Sanz wrote: > Dear sirs, > I would like to have a general idea about the MTBF of a FPGA. > > Thank you.Article: 47309
Thaks all I have already made few tests you suggested me. I'll come with result when I find the problem in couple of weeks (I have to recompile an other FPGA for an other urgent project). Life is good, it feed us with problems to solve... Only engineer can enjoy this. Cheer Pierre Philip Freidin <philip@fliptronics.com> wrote in message news:<23fsou8f5u9472u205cclfgd89dlmil99v@4ax.com>... > While 65C is hot to touch, this is well within normal operating > temperature. > > Here are some tests you could try, after re-checking that you > dont have I/O contention (output connected to output). > > A) Power the board but dont configure the FPGA. It should be cold. > > B) Power the board but dont clock the FPGA. It should be cold. > > C) Create a dummy design that drives the outputs with alternating > 0 and 1, but bulk of chip is empty. It should be cold to warm. > > If any of these run hot, you need to figure out why. For B and C, > you could selectively disable output till you find out which one > is having contention issues (if that is the problem) > > Philip > > > > On 19 Sep 2002 14:55:31 -0700, pierrotlafouine@hotmail.com (Pierre Lafrance) > wrote: > >Hi all > >I respined a product, changing the old Xilinx XV-300 with a XCV-600E. > >Of course, I had to change voltage regulator from 2.5 to 1.8 volts, > >and few 5 volts CPLD to 3.3v. > > > >The problem is : the XCV-600E overheat, and 1 of the prototype just > >died. > >I tried to find any hardware signal that would exceed voltage but > >couldn't. Hardware seems to be just fine. I suspect the chips itself > >to overheat. I just put a heatseak temporarly, but would like to > >solve the problem if I can. > > > >Simulation with XPower estimate the chips temperature to be 50C, but I > >measure up to 65C. > > > >The disign use 75% of BRAM, and 75% of FF of the XCV-600E. > >Clock is 82MHz. > > > >Anybody experienced overheat with 600E ? > > > >Cheers ! > > > >Pierre > > Philip Freidin > FliptronicsArticle: 47310
rickman wrote: > > You will find the Altera press release here > > http://www.altera.com/corporate/news_room/releases/products/nr-cyclone.html?xy=whp1_cycpr > > Or you can start on the reading about the details here > > http://www.altera.com/products/devices/cyclone/cyc-index.jsp > > Looks like they are finally responding to Spartan. This can only be > good for the users. After taking a quick look at the Cyclone family, I can see they are taking a slightly different approach than Xilinx. The Xilinx Spartan II series is based on the Virtex family just as the Spartan was based on the XC4000. In contrast, it looks like the Cyclone family is not directly based on any existing Altera family. Comparing the Spartan II to the Cyclone shows that the Cyclone has a higher LUT to IO ratio. The Cyclone looks a little more like a potential future Spartan III based on the Virtex II family which also has a high LUT to IO ratio. SpartanII 2S50E 2S100E 2S150E 2S200E 2S300E LUTs 1536 2400 3456 4700 6144 IOs 182 202 263 289 329 ratio 8 12 13 16 19 Cyclone EP1C3 EP1C6 EP1C12 EP1C20 LUTs 2910 5980 12060 20060 IOs 104 185 249 301 ratio 28 32 48 67 As it turns out this makes the Cyclone parts very expensive in high IO count applications. Further, Altera seems to not have small chip scale packages for the low end of the family. Looks like they really tried to go for a low price, limited options product line, even more so than the Spartan II. The high LUT count may prove a benefit for some applications though. -- Rick "rickman" Collins rick.collins@XYarius.com Ignore the reply address. To email me use the above address with the XY removed. Arius - A Signal Processing Solutions Company Specializing in DSP and FPGA design URL http://www.arius.com 4 King Ave 301-682-7772 Voice Frederick, MD 21701-3110 301-682-7666 FAXArticle: 47311
I see that Altera is referring to the new Cyclone devices as 'FPGAs'. I don't recall them using the term FPGA, before. Is this a new marketing ploy? Leon -- Leon Heller, G1HSM leon_heller@hotmail.com http://www.geocities.com/leon_hellerArticle: 47312
Your request is far beyond an evaluation kit. You want a PCI card with complete software interface. Plus you want CPU core inside the FPGA. Rene newb wrote: > Hello, > > I am interested in integrating a virtual cpu that can take >instructions from a pc and then compute them within the fpga, > then return the computed result back to the computer. I would > like to know if anyone could suggest a fpga evaluation kit that > would be ideal for this situation. Thank you.Article: 47313
"Markus Meng" <meng.engineering@bluewin.ch> schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:aaaee51b.0209230623.700eae42@posting.google.com... > hi all, > > has anybody done this using spartan-ii with - for example - > an LVDS interface? For LVDS you need Spartan-IIE. > What I require is a fast serial - bus like - connection between > 3 or 4 electronic modules. Those modules are close to each other > but in separate cabinets. I would like to use - let's say - RJ11 > connector and cabling, the speed should be ~ 100 Mbps Havent done this yet, but should be easy. Just use a LVDS-Pair for data, a second for Clock, and, If you really love luxury, a third for a frame pulse. @ 100 Mbit/s and single data rate clocking, this should be easy. -- MfG FalkArticle: 47314
It's in EE Times as well. Looks pretty good. I found datasheets, app notes, lots of other material linked through their press release. http://www.altera.com/corporate/news_room/releases/products/nr-cyclone.html Jack cheponis wrote: > Hi, does anyone here have any info on the new Altera "cyclone" > inexpensive chips? > > The only reference I've seen is > http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/4133199.htm > > Thanks.Article: 47315
In article <amng0g$74hgf$1@ID-84877.news.dfncis.de>, Falk Brunner <Falk.Brunner@gmx.de> wrote: >> What I require is a fast serial - bus like - connection between >> 3 or 4 electronic modules. Those modules are close to each other >> but in separate cabinets. I would like to use - let's say - RJ11 >> connector and cabling, the speed should be ~ 100 Mbps > >Havent done this yet, but should be easy. Just use a LVDS-Pair for data, a >second for Clock, and, If you really love luxury, a third for a frame pulse. >@ 100 Mbit/s and single data rate clocking, this should be easy. Silly observation, but couldn't you just use Ethernet as your connection media at that data rate? I know it is in some ways overkill, but it gives you sometihng guarenteed to work. -- Nicholas C. Weaver nweaver@cs.berkeley.eduArticle: 47316
I have started some Cyclone links and commentary at fpgacpu.org. Jan Gray, Gray Research LLCArticle: 47317
hi, I'm using the A15E board from Altera (DSP Development board). I have a design which has a clk input, reset input and an LED output. I do not use any other I/O's. While compiling my design, I assign RESET and LED output to the correct pins on the board. I assume the CLK inputs get assigned correctly by themselves. What needs to be done to the unused pins in the Apex20KE device on the A15E board ? Do I need to assign the rest of the I/O pins to GND or anything else, or can I go ahead and compile my design with just the 2 assignments above and not bother about the rest of the pins assuming that the board design has taken care of what happens to the unassigned pins. Anyone with Altera boards experience ? Thanks, PrashantArticle: 47318
Jim Granville <jim.granville@designtools.co.nz> wrote in message news:<3D8D2E62.4B25@designtools.co.nz>... > John wrote: > > > > I would like to use a push-button switch (either normally open or > > normally closed) to drive a logic one (3V) or logic zero to a Xilinx > > CoolRunner XPLA3 CPLD. The input current should be no more than a few > > uA. Can anyone suggest a circuit for this using my switch, 3V supply, > > and hopefully just a small amount of resistors (and caps, if > > necessary)? > > See also other postings on this > > The smallest/simplest switch connection is using a SPCO > > Vcc -----\ > o--------- PIN > GND ----- > > This works best with a pin-keeper, and draws no current in either > state. > It also has bounce-removal. > Some CPLDs have symmetric pinkeepers built in, on the others, > you can drive the OP-IP to create a pinkeeper. Can I connect Vcc or GND directly to the input pin (with no resistors), regardless of whether I have a pin-keeper? How do I calculate the current drawn this way.. can I just model the CPLD side of the input pin as some resistor value to ground? I don't think the Xilinx CoolRunner XPLA3 has a pin-keeper. When you suggest creating one, do you mean on the CPLD using HDL or using external components? > For SPNO (tact ) type switches, you need a pullup (10-100K), > and then Icc is drawn when pressed, and you also have > bounce to handle. I'm handling debouncing in logic. When the switch is in its open state, the pin would be left floating. Should I connect it directly to ground, or to ground using a pulldown? When the switch is closed, how would I find the current and voltage at the pin when I'm using the 10-100K pullup (ie. again, how do I model the CPLD side of the input)? Thanks a lot for your response.. I'm kinda new to all this as you can probably tell, so thanks for helping me out! > If you want a 'clean edges' signal, then use a TinyLogic HC1G14 and > a pullup, plus series RC to filter the bounce. > > - jgArticle: 47319
Hi Prashant. > While compiling my design, I assign RESET and LED output to the correct > pins on the board. I assume the CLK inputs get assigned correctly by themselves. Depends on your designflow. If you use DSPBuilder and use the AltLib elements for the development board, yes! > What needs to be done to the unused pins in the Apex20KE device on the > A15E board ? Nothing else. > can I go ahead and compile my design with just the 2 > assignments above and not bother about the rest of the pins assuming > that the board design has taken care of what happens to the unassigned > pins. If you use the generated scripts (and QuartusII default settings) all unused IO will be set to "outputs driving ground". If you want to make sure that nothing goes wrong, prepare a script that configures those pins on the Apex which are meant to be inputs from other devices (like the ADC) as unused inputs (which will be tristated, if not used in the design). All unconnected pins should be left "outputs driving ground", which is default for unused pins for Quartus. ChristophArticle: 47320
--------------3F52D7D9B40117DA1E0FB7FB Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Here is the "executive summary" from page 19 of that 218-page report: After testing devices for millions of device hours at 125 degr C, the calculated failure rate at Tj = 55 degr C is between 5 and 30 FIT, where one FIT = one failure per billion device hours. So the MTBF per device (i.e. per packaged chip) is somewhere between 33 million and 200 million hours, which means somewhere between four thousand and 25 thousand years. Peter Alfke ================================================ Austin Lesea wrote: > http://support.xilinx.com/xlnx/xil_ans_display.jsp?iLanguageID=1&iCountryID=1&getPagePath=11768 > > answer number 11768. > > Austin > > Manuel Zaera Sanz wrote: > >> Dear sirs, >> I would like to have a general idea about the MTBF of a FPGA. >> >> Thank you. >Article: 47321
John wrote: > > Jim Granville <jim.granville@designtools.co.nz> wrote in message news:<3D8D2E62.4B25@designtools.co.nz>... > > John wrote: > > > > > > I would like to use a push-button switch (either normally open or > > > normally closed) to drive a logic one (3V) or logic zero to a Xilinx > > > CoolRunner XPLA3 CPLD. The input current should be no more than a few > > > uA. Can anyone suggest a circuit for this using my switch, 3V supply, > > > and hopefully just a small amount of resistors (and caps, if > > > necessary)? > > > > See also other postings on this > > > > The smallest/simplest switch connection is using a SPCO > > > > Vcc -----\ > > o--------- PIN > > GND ----- > > > > This works best with a pin-keeper, and draws no current in either > > state. > > It also has bounce-removal. > > Some CPLDs have symmetric pinkeepers built in, on the others, > > you can drive the OP-IP to create a pinkeeper. > > Can I connect Vcc or GND directly to the input pin (with no > resistors), regardless of whether I have a pin-keeper? yes ( use Vccio ) > How do I calculate the current drawn this way.. There is nominally zero static current in either state > can I just model the CPLD side > of the input pin as some resistor value to ground? No, a pineeper is a snap-action current source > I don't think the Xilinx CoolRunner XPLA3 has a pin-keeper. When you > suggest creating one, do you mean on the CPLD using HDL or using > external components? See Peter A's post - you make a 'pinkeep' using regen pin drive ( but this does mean consuming a IO pin ) Vcc-----\ Pin IPb o-------|---+------|>----+---> GND ---- | OPb | +------<|----+ Here, the pin is an OP, set to == the IP, ie async regen path. ( some synthesis tools will love this :) The switch has to deliver enough brief current to force the Output buffer past the IP buffer threshold, thereafter it snaps, and holds that state until pulled the other way. ( If the option is there, set the OPb for the lowest drive ) > > > For SPNO (tact ) type switches, you need a pullup (10-100K), > > and then Icc is drawn when pressed, and you also have > > bounce to handle. > I'm handling debouncing in logic. > > When the switch is in its open state, the pin would be left floating. > Should I connect it directly to ground, or to ground using a pulldown? using a pull down > When the switch is closed, how would I find the current and voltage at > the pin when I'm using the 10-100K pullup (ie. again, how do I model > the CPLD side of the input)? 100K at 3V, is 3V/0.1M -> 30uA - this is drawn only during button press. > > Thanks a lot for your response.. I'm kinda new to all this as you can > probably tell, so thanks for helping me out! > > > If you want a 'clean edges' signal, then use a TinyLogic HC1G14 and > > a pullup, plus series RC to filter the bounce. > > > > - jgArticle: 47322
"Lorenzo Lutti" <lorenzo.lutti@DOHtiscalinet.it> ha scritto nel messaggio news:xnmj9.74239$Hc7.617967@twister1.libero.it... [...] As usual, five minutes after I've sent the message I found the solution. Thank you all, anyway. :) P.S. Which books (either online and not) do you suggest as a beginner/intermediate VHDL reference focused on programmable logic syntesis? I am reading some generic VHDL books like the "VHDL Cookbook", but they are very abstract and obsolete. -- LorenzoArticle: 47323
Markus, Check out the HEART communications used with HERON DSP Systems. HERON is an off the shelf board level product family that combines Spartan-II or Virtex-II FPGAs, as well as DSPs and analog I/O. It might give you some ideas. http://www.traquair.com/catalog/heron.systems.html HEART allows the resources, which take the form of modules, to communicate with each other in increments of 67MBytes/sec. There are some options that should be available shortly that will seamlessly extend the communications / data paths between "cabinets" in the manner consistent with what you describe. Regards, Stephen Bradshaw Traquair "Markus Meng" <meng.engineering@bluewin.ch> wrote in message news:aaaee51b.0209230623.700eae42@posting.google.com... > hi all, > > has anybody done this using spartan-ii with - for example - > an LVDS interface? > > What I require is a fast serial - bus like - connection between > 3 or 4 electronic modules. Those modules are close to each other > but in separate cabinets. I would like to use - let's say - RJ11 > connector and cabling, the speed should be ~ 100 Mbps > > markusArticle: 47324
Go to http://www.insight-electronics.com and check out their Xilinx evaluation boards. They have a Spartan-II based PCI eval. board. "newb" <n/a@ee.net> wrote in message news:ee791fd.-1@WebX.sUN8CHnE... > Hello, > > I am interested in integrating a virtual cpu that can take instructions from a pc and then compute them within the fpga, then return the computed result back to the computer. I would like to know if anyone could suggest a fpga evaluation kit that would be ideal for this situation. Thank you.
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