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Not sure if this is the right place but here goes! I have the task of replacing a bunch of ALTERA EP310 PLDs for a new design but only have the JED files for them. I need the equation for them. I have scanned the NET but can only find JED2EQN.EXE which does not have the EP310 in the library. I don't care about the format of the equations EQN,CUPL etc. Does anyone know of a simple utility around that will take the EP310 JED files and output something that tells me what the damn things do. Any help will be gratefullt received. Regards SteveArticle: 53126
Goran, How about using the web-pack. It is free and does support the Spartan2E. Alternatively, ISE is only about $700 if I recall correctly. Theron "Goran" <goran@net.yu> wrote in message news:3c0f6336.0303040501.3ebd09f8@posting.google.com... > Thanks, Ray. > But how can I update libraries? I contacted people in Aldec support, > and they didn't give me any clear answer. They just told me it would > be if I buy new edition ( $4K for Xilinx edition). > My idea is to start developing some serious stuff in FPGAs for > company I work in, but I first have to show "some" results with what > we already got, before I start pursuading my chief to buy some real > stuff. > Thanks, > Goran > > > Ray Andraka <ray@andraka.com> wrote in message news:<3E640E13.EB3569B6@andraka.com>... > > XST does a fine job, much better than foundation did. You will be happy with it. You can use your Aldec for both > > pre-PAR and post route simulations. Aldec 3.2 is getting a bit long in the tooth now, the current version is 5.2. Just > > make sure your unisim and simprim libraries have been updated and you should be fine though. For what it is worth, the > > later editions of Aldec fixed a few annoying bugs in 3.2, increased the simulation speed considerably, and added > > features. You'd probably find the update to be well worth the money when you can afford it. > > > > Goran wrote: > > > > > kevinbraceusenet@hotmail.com (Kevin Brace) wrote in message news:<cc7b0b5f.0302231456.ce5e3f9@posting.google.com>... > > > > > > Kevin, > > > Thanks for answer. > > > > > > > Goran, > > > > > > > > Which Xilinx part are you planning to target? > > > > > > Spartan IIe, smaler Virtex (mainly because multipliers).Below 300K > > > gates. > > > > > > > As long as you are targeting Xilinx devices below 300K system gates or > > > > you don't have to target a 2.5V Virtex device, you may want to try the > > > > free ISE WebPACK first before paying for ISE BASE-X. > > > > Unlike ISE BASE-X users, ISE WebPACK users won't have access to FPGA > > > > Editor or CORE Generator, but if those tools aren't important to you, > > > > you should be fine with ISE WebPACK. > > > > > > I would like to use CORE Generator. I think it's a nice thing and ISE > > > baseX doesn't seem to expencive. I don't like paying every year, > > > but... > > > > > > > Regarding ModelSim XE, you may want to try ModelSim XE-Starter > > > > first before paying for ModelSim XE. > > > > Yes, ModelSim XE-Starter has a 500 statements limit, but what that > > > > really means is that the simulation speed will drop after that limit, > > > > and the simulator will still continue to run past that limit. > > > > In the past, I have simulated a design that exceeded the 500 > > > > statements limitation by 40,000 lines, but ModelSim XE-Starter > > > > completed the simulation fine. > > > > However, it took quite a time to complete because I was doing a Post > > > > P&R simulation of a design, and a Post P&R simulation is inherently > > > > very slow compared to an RTL simulation. > > > > > > The problem is we have some older version of Aldecs ActiveVHDL, I > > > think 3.2. I did lot of behavioral simulations on this one, and I like > > > it. My question is can I import post place & route design from ISE and > > > perform simulation in ActiveVHDL 3.2? I'm beginer in this, so really > > > need help! > > > > > > > I also agree with Spam Hater that XST's synthesis quality is > > > > good, so unless you don't mind paying $8,000 for a third party > > > > synthesis tool, I will just use XST. > > > > > > Lot of people are saying XST is OK. Since I mind paying that much I'll > > > go with XST. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Goran > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Kevin Brace (If someone wants to respond to what I wrote, I prefer if > > > > you will do so within the newsgroup.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > goran@net.yu (Goran) wrote in message news:<3c0f6336.0302221215.1ab0ed0d@posting.google.com>... > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > I work in small, development company, and we would like to start some > > > > > more advanced FPGA designs (we are now using Xilinx FPGAs for simple > > > > > glue logic only). My question is what tools we need to complete medium > > > > > sized projects on Spartan IIe & smaller Virtex members. > > > > > I learned (on Xilinx web site) that ISEbaseX would be OK? > > > > > Does "one year license" that you buy from Xilinx mean your software > > > > > stops working after one year, or you just don't have access to > > > > > updates? > > > > > If we purchase ModelSim XE does the same license apply? > > > > > Can we use another VHDL simulator for post place & route simulation? > > > > > We have, for example, Active VHDL, can we use it? > > > > > How does XST behave, do we have to buy other synthezis tool to compile > > > > > anything more advanced? > > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > > Goran. > > > > -- > > --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: 53127
Stamatis Sotiropoulos wrote: > Regarding bypass Capacitors, is it important to use SMD Capacitors > (like Y5V)? I intended to use classic MKT-370 capacitors... As someone else has said, long leads mean high inductance and poor bypass behavior. Short leads (or no leads) mean low inductance and best bypass behavior. Use the surface mount parts. They are very easy to use. Ideally use a 0605 or smaller size. Certainly not any bigger than 0805 size. TheronArticle: 53128
This is a fair point, I am partly affiliated with a university here in Scotland and I have noticed a significant difference in support from educational and commercial points of view, it was part of the reason that we (at the company) went with the commercial version of ISE and ModelSIM. I have had no problem getting in contact with the people at the company and their technical advice to a potential customer was very good considering it was only an enquiry. Robert, I hope you have more luck. Austin, thanks. I would still like an opinion from someone who has one if possible though! Thanks again, and in advance! Mike "Austin Lesea" <austin.lesea@xilinx.com> wrote in message news:3E63E0EA.B099E0B7@xilinx.com... > Robert, > > Why would you call Avnet when the Xilinx University program supports Berkeley > directly? > > Remember that Avnet is a "for profit" business, and they will concentrate on > customers (because that is how we all make money and stay in business). > > For University support, there is a whole other organization set up just for that > reason (so we can support reseach, and student learning, without impacting our > sales partners and our day to day business). > > In fact, universities and schools are encouraged to use the newsgroup that is > set up just for them....to obtain support on any technical questions. > > http://www.xilinx.com/univ/ > > Austin > > Robert Abiad wrote: > > > Hi Mike, > > > > After many calls, I was never able to actually talk to anyone at the > > company or get anyone to return my calls. That's a bad sign as far as > > I'm concerned, so I'd try someone else. > > > > -robert > > > > Michael Nicklas wrote: > > > > > Hi > > > > > > I'm thinking of investing in the Avnet Xilinx Virtex-E development kit and > > > wondered if anybody had any previous experience with them and any opinions > > > of them as a company, in terms of product quality, tech support etc. > > > > > > Much appreciated. > > > > > > -- > > > Cheers! > > > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > > >Article: 53129
There's no real standard guidelines. Conventional, conservative practice these days is to have gnd and vdd on two adjacent planes, have several bulk caps of 33-47 uF tantalum somewhere on the board, and have high-frequency ceramic bypass caps of .1 or .01 (maybe both) as close as possible to pairs of power pins. The actual requirements depend on slew rates, how many lines can switch at the same time, loads on the outputs, clock frequencies, etc. Xilinx or one of their distributors sponsored a talk claiming that the high-frequency caps should be of varying capacities, because each package will have its own resonant frequency where noise is not effectively squashed. Might be needed in the most demanding of applications. Dave Kinsell kill the yz in address for email reply "sanjay" <sanjay@cg-coreel.com> wrote in message news:b3fdt2$1klqf9$1@ID-164436.news.dfncis.de... > Hi group, > Can anybody tell me which kind of Decoupling Capacitor I should us for > Xilinx Xc98288XL-10FG256. > Is there any standard Guideline for selecting the Device Decoupling? > > Thanks in Advance > Sanjay > >Article: 53130
Dear Basuki, The safe answer is just to keep the most significant bits. However, you may well be wasting dynamic range by doing this. The best is to calculate the output saturation level. This is the maximum level the output can reach based on the actual coefficients you have used, many of which will relatively small numbers. In this way you can often discard one or more of the MSBs which are not really used and maintain higher precision by keeping some LSBs. Needless to say this is covered on the Xilinx DSP Techniques Course which I authored :-) Yours sincerely, Ken ChapmanArticle: 53131
hiya guys, my first post to this group, please don't tear me apart ;) I'm using the HDL bencher from xilinx to generate a testbench. I'm using their free ISE 5.2i software. Works fine. except.. when I go beyond even a very simple stimuli, the memory usage of the bencher grows beyond belief, slowing the pc down to a halt. Setting a signal on and off for a about 20 times runs me up to 90MB memory used. Anyone else getting this? Any solutions? I've searched the web but didn't find much.. tnx, itrisArticle: 53132
Does Xilinx have support via email (ie. individual support)... my problem has no solution record on the website, I think it may be a bug but I don't know...I am running ISE 4.2i, and am having a huge problem with the serial implementation of the DA FIR Filter v7.0 thanks adrianArticle: 53133
Noddy, http://www.xilinx.com/support/clearexpress/websupport.htm Gets you to the logins and emails for techincal support. Note that the University Program has its own technoical support system (do not use commercial hotline!). Austin Noddy wrote: > Does Xilinx have support via email (ie. individual support)... my problem > has no solution record on the website, I think it may be a bug but I don't > know...I am running ISE 4.2i, and am having a huge problem with the serial > implementation of the DA FIR Filter v7.0 > > thanks > > adrianArticle: 53134
Hi all of you! I have seen a lot of postings related to DCM's unlocking because of ground bounce and jitter on the input clock to the DCM. I also had a problem with that on a prototype. Buffering the input clock solved that because the problem was crosstalk from other signals. My concern is this... the DLL need a reset when it loses lock and there seemes to be several problems that leeds to a DCM loosing lock. If you have a design that shall run for years without restart, there is a great chance that the DLL will unlock and corrupt the data transmission or whatever it does. Personally I intend to make an auto-reset based on the status signals from the DLL. In most application notes from Xilinx they tie DCM RESET to GND, should't they at least make a footnote that warn you about this possible situation? A design may work in the lab for a few days, but what about the noisy environment of the customers? What do you think? Do you have the guts to send out hundreds of PBA's with DLL RESET tied to GND? What does the Xilinx guys says about this? Regards Håkon LislebøArticle: 53135
Hakon, Well, if the noise is less than what we specify (ie 200 mV peak to peak) there are no problems (at least from the noise).... If the input jitter or noise is far worse than what we specify, then you should take that into account, and either fix the jitter/noise, or make a design that can reset itself when the DCM unlocks due to excessive input jitter, and tolerate the occasional resets due to operating out of specifications. Quite simply, if you exceed the jitter input specification, do not expect the DCM to remain locked. As for hundreds, let us say rather that millions of pcbs have been shipped that use the DCM, and this is not a problem that we see occurring in the field except in a very few selected cases; which turn out to be due to excessive noise or bad signal integrity in the initial design and we get them solved. Every time we solve a problem, we post it as an answer, so that our hotline (and the customer) doesn't have to keep guessing at what might be wrong. The fact that there are so many 'answers' for the DCM just means they are a popular and useful feature, that gets used a lot, and people are always finding new ways to break them and exceed the specifications. Austin Hakon Lislebo wrote: > Hi all of you! > I have seen a lot of postings related to DCM's unlocking because of > ground bounce and jitter on the input clock to the DCM. I also had a > problem with that on a prototype. Buffering the input clock solved > that because the problem was crosstalk from other signals. > > My concern is this... the DLL need a reset when it loses lock and > there seemes to be several problems that leeds to a DCM loosing lock. > If you have a design that shall run for years without restart, there > is a great chance that the DLL will unlock and corrupt the data > transmission or whatever it does. Personally I intend to make an > auto-reset based on the status signals from the DLL. In most > application notes from Xilinx they tie DCM RESET to GND, should't they > at least make a footnote that warn you about this possible situation? > A design may work in the lab for a few days, but what about the noisy > environment of the customers? > > What do you think? Do you have the guts to send out hundreds of PBA's > with DLL RESET tied to GND? What does the Xilinx guys says about this? > > Regards > Håkon LislebøArticle: 53136
On Mon, 03 Mar 2003 20:25:47 -0800, Kevin Neilson wrote: > Here's a question I was asked by a friend and realized I have no answer > for. He wants to use `include, to include a text file of comments that > initializes a blockRAM, but he wants to do it conditionally based on the > hierarchy of the module. That is, he wants to reuse the same module in > many places, but wants to `include a different text file in each one. > > Here's an example of what he would like to do (although this isn't > possible): > > // Instantiate RAM 0 > defparam ram0.TEXT_FILE = "file0"; > ram_module ram0 (..); > // Instantiate RAM 1 > defparam ram1.TEXT_FILE = "file1"; > ram_module ram1 (..); > > //This is the code for the RAM module module ram_module (..); parameter > TEXT_FILE = "something_that_will_be_passed_from_above"; `include > "TEXT_FILE" > endmodule > > > > Is there a way to do something like this? > > -Kevin Kevin: I remember trying very hard in the past to get the `include directive to accept something other than a literal file name. I was unsuccessful. It is a pretty inflexible mechanism. About the only thing you can do is bracket it with `ifdef's. What is your friend's motivation here, and which Verilog simulator/synthesizer is he using? Perhaps there is an alternate way of doing what he wants. --KeithArticle: 53138
ISE is the tool that takes your Verilog design and produces your chip. The test bench is used for simulation where you provide stimulus - usually in a non-synthesizeable form - and compare the outputs from the design you're testing to the expected values. It's the design you'r testing that needs to be run through ISE, not the test bench. "nntp.lucent.com" <wang_huaibo@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:b427fb$eps@netnews.proxy.lucent.com... > Hi, everyone, > > I finished the verilog code. > I simulated it by Modelsim. > > Now I want to run it on ISE 5.0 > > ISE complains that my test bench > module has no port list. > > What shall I do now? Shall I prepare > my test bench driver in another way? > > THANKS > > Bucther > >Article: 53139
That would be great but I don't see it happening. "Tomas" <tmlo@networks.nera.no> wrote in message news:87f5aba4.0303040322.570bb649@posting.google.com... > Hi all, > > I am considering the future hardware platforms for our designs. As our > groups have a wide experience with unix environments (we have been > using Solaris for a while, now), we would like to continue in this > world. > > Basically all the EDA tools we need run for either Solaris, HP and > some of them now, Linux. I am not going to list all the pro's and > con's of these platforms, we have already heard enough about it. > > What I am mostly curious about is the feasibility of Mac based FPGA > design. Mac Os X is a nice and SUPPORTED Unix OS, and the Xservers > from Apple are not too expensive compared to equivalent Intel boxes... > And with the rumored advent of the 970 chips from IBM they might > become even more interesting. > > Of course none of EDA tools we use (Modelsim, Leonardo, Synplify, > Xilinx Alliance...) have native versions for Mac OS X. > > What do you all think about this? Should we press the EDA vendors to > come up with yet-another-supported-platform? > > Regards, > TomasArticle: 53140
Jeniffer wrote: > Hi all, > I am trying to implement a design in virtex device. My design contains > quite a few latches (intended). When I implement the design and open > the design in the FPGA editor, I see that the latches are implemented > using LUTs and not using the registers in the slice. The device contains > free resources of registers. Is there a way, I can force the latches to > be implemented in registers To infer a register, you need a synchronous process. process(rst, clk) begin . . . -- Mike TreselerArticle: 53141
itris wrote: > > I'm using the HDL bencher from xilinx to generate a testbench. I'm > using their free ISE 5.2i software. Works fine. > except.. > > when I go beyond even a very simple stimuli, the memory usage of the > bencher grows beyond belief, slowing the pc down to a halt. > Setting a signal on and off for a about 20 times runs me up to 90MB > memory used. Anyone else getting this? Any solutions? I've searched > the web but didn't find much.. Consider writing your own testbench in a text editor. See: http://www.stefanvhdl.com/ -- Mike TreselerArticle: 53142
Austin, Austin Lesea wrote: > Robert, > > Why would you call Avnet when the Xilinx University program supports Berkeley > directly? Would you believe because I like to pay full price? Actually, I figured that the XUP was for instruction only. Then again, when I did call Xilinx directly, they sent me off to an outside rep who told me that Xilinx doesn't make boards themselves and that I should call one of their partners. Nobody suggested the XUP. > Remember that Avnet is a "for profit" business, and they will concentrate on > customers (because that is how we all make money and stay in business). > > For University support, there is a whole other organization set up just for that > reason (so we can support reseach, and student learning, without impacting our > sales partners and our day to day business). > When I call a company about their products, I am a customer. We pay with real money and if we want to purchase a commercial product instead of an educational one, the vendor shouldn't override us. If Insight responds to our questions and sells us their products when Avent won't, that means they provide better service. I wouldn't buy from a company that ignores me because I'm not a big enough customer unless I had to. I'm glad to hear Mike had better luck. > In fact, universities and schools are encouraged to use the newsgroup that is > set up just for them....to obtain support on any technical questions. > > http://www.xilinx.com/univ/ > > Austin Thanks for the reference. I'll keep it in mind for the future. -robertArticle: 53143
tmlo@networks.nera.no (Tomas) wrote in message news:<87f5aba4.0303040322.570bb649@posting.google.com>... > Hi all, > > I am considering the future hardware platforms for our designs. As our > groups have a wide experience with unix environments (we have been > using Solaris for a while, now), we would like to continue in this > world. > > Basically all the EDA tools we need run for either Solaris, HP and > some of them now, Linux. I am not going to list all the pro's and > con's of these platforms, we have already heard enough about it. > > What I am mostly curious about is the feasibility of Mac based FPGA > design. Mac Os X is a nice and SUPPORTED Unix OS, and the Xservers > from Apple are not too expensive compared to equivalent Intel boxes... > And with the rumored advent of the 970 chips from IBM they might > become even more interesting. > > Of course none of EDA tools we use (Modelsim, Leonardo, Synplify, > Xilinx Alliance...) have native versions for Mac OS X. > > What do you all think about this? Should we press the EDA vendors to > come up with yet-another-supported-platform? > > Regards, > Tomas OSX is a great platform but it won't help, way too expensive, way too little cpu. I would say to drop support for Windows and leave it all to Linux, at least the APIs are more friendly to complex EDA SW dev, and not endlessly being changed as MS is prone to do. And Intel/Linux boxes are the cheapest/fastest way to go. Linux is ready for 64bit cpus IIRC. Anyway the high end FPGA tool chain is more & more becoming the same as the ASIC flow which has long been almost totally nix. Using Windows for ASIC then FPGA design has been a big waste of time for me, Windows doesn't even have a useable cmd line interface unless you add in this & that. I wanted all Windows & GUIed apps at one time, but I changed my mind after using it. nuff saidArticle: 53144
"john jakson" <johnjakson@yahoo.com> wrote in message > OSX is a great platform but it won't help, way too expensive, way too > little cpu. > > I would say to drop support for Windows and leave it all to Linux, at > least the APIs are more friendly to complex EDA SW dev, and not > endlessly being changed as MS is prone to do. > > And Intel/Linux boxes are the cheapest/fastest way to go. Linux is > ready for 64bit cpus IIRC. Anyway the high end FPGA tool chain is more > & more becoming the same as the ASIC flow which has long been almost > totally nix. > AlfredoArticle: 53145
Hi! Can anyone let me how partial reconfiguration achieved in Atmel AT40k and lattice ispXPGA FPGAs regards, SumanthArticle: 53146
LUT-based programmable chips with their configuration stored in latches (and thus called "SRAM-based") are generally called FPGA ( as are the antifuse parts from Actel and Quicklogic) When Altera added such devices to their line they had emotional, political, or legal concerns to call them FPGAs, so they insisted on the CPLD label. But this hang-up seems to be over, now that the lawsuit with Xilinx is settled. Do like the rest of the world, just call all LUT and "SRAM" -based devices FPGAs. Life is too short to be hung up on semantics. Peter Alfke, Xilinx Applications. ========================== siriuswmx wrote: > > Thank you . > I prefer the chip APEX20K , but it is FPGA or CPLD, How to > differentiate FPGA from CPLD? and are there mang differences of the > programming between FPGA and CPLD ? > :) > brad@tinyboot.com (Brad Eckert) wrote in message > > > Both companies claim to have the lowest cost FPGAs. 8-) > > > > I haven't used Altera, so I can't make a good comparison. But, > > installing ISE Webpack was very easy. I got the CD and a product key > > from Xilinx for free, and it will run forever. The next thing I knew I > > was pushing buttons and synthesizing and fitting VHDL. Too cool. > > > > Altera uses a third party synthesis tool with Quartus, so licensing > > isn't so simple. AKAIK the Mentor evaluation license lasts for 30 > > days.Article: 53147
J_Jeniffer@excite.com (Jeniffer) wrote in message news:<ded21c45.0303040224.10dfe510@posting.google.com>... > Hi all, > I am trying to implement a design in virtex device. My design contains > quite a few latches (intended). When I implement the design and open > the design in the FPGA editor, I see that the latches are implemented > using LUTs and not using the registers in the slice. The device contains > free resources of registers. Is there a way, I can force the latches to > be implemented in registers (other than using primitives)? I would > prefer the code to be portable. > > My code (VHDL) for latch looks something like this: > > process (enable, din) > begin > if (enable = 0) then > dout <= din; > else > dout <= dout; > end if; > end process; > > Thankyou for your time, > Jeniffer If you are a newbie, you really^n shouldn't be using latches period, its bad all round for many reasons, enough to hang yourself by. Stick to syncronous clocked flops & you will do so much better. If you are an old pro, then you will already know when latches are ok to use & how to code them (no else), I can think of some really good reasons to use them in full custom ASICs, but I am damned if I would ever use them in FPGA. Even in most ASIC foundries, you often wouldn't be allowed to insert latches in a design with out detailed case by case waivers. That means using latches in FPGA means it likely won't port to an ASIC, so why will it work in FPGA? Sorry to come on like that, but most of us learnt our lessons on latches. Same as the GOTO statement. Sign of badly written code. You can usually get same/better result with DFlops. But IIRC most fast cpus use latches for pipelines because they can allow faster clocking. JJArticle: 53148
Jeniffer wrote: > Hi all, > I am trying to implement a design in virtex device. My design contains > quite a few latches (intended). I think you can use RAM elements to synthesise a latch ... This way is documented on Xilinx website...Article: 53149
As others have written, your code doesn't actually infer a latch. Indeed, you should not be using latches unless you are very sure what you are doing. One of their few uses on a FPGA is in linking asynchronous clock domains (itself a very specialised business). There is a design note on Xilinx TechXclusives that does this. Download a copy of the Xilinx Libraries Guide: it includes sample code to instantiate all the different primitives. Xilinx will implement a latch using the asynchronous set/reset inputs to a flipflop. J_Jeniffer@excite.com (Jeniffer) wrote: :Hi all, :I am trying to implement a design in virtex device. My design contains :quite a few latches (intended). When I implement the design and open :the design in the FPGA editor, I see that the latches are implemented :using LUTs and not using the registers in the slice. The device contains :free resources of registers. Is there a way, I can force the latches to :be implemented in registers (other than using primitives)? I would :prefer the code to be portable. : :My code (VHDL) for latch looks something like this: : :process (enable, din) :begin :if (enable = 0) then :dout <= din; :else :dout <= dout; :end if; :end process; : :Thankyou for your time, :Jeniffer
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