What is the structure of the FPGA-based evaluation board that we are going to use along this course? 1
This is the question of this lecture. As a short answer, 2
we consider the Basys 3 FPGA entry-level board to implement our examples and designs. 3
So let me to introduce you to this board. 4
The Basys-3 board utilises a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA. This chip offers 5
20,800 6-input LUTs, 41,600 Flip-Flops, 1,800 6
Kbits of fast block RAM, 5 clock management tiles, 90 DSP slices, On-chip analog/digital 7
converter. 8
This board can be used for implementing a wide range of applications from combinational circuits to sequential 9
designs, to controllers and embedded processors. 10
The Basys3 board offers a collection of ports, peripherals, and components including: 16 user 11
slide switches that can be used to give input values to a design 16 user LEDs that can be used to 12
show the states and values of design outputs 5 user pushbuttons. 13
4-digit 7-segment display. Three Pmod connectors. Pmod for XADC signals. 12-bit VGA output 14
Power circuit. 15
Shared UART/JTAG USB port. USB Host Connector 16
And also FPGA itself. 17
The Basys3 board can receive its power from two sources: from the USB-JTAG port, denoted by jumper 18
J4, or from a 5V external power supply, indicated by jumper j6. Jumper JP2 (near the power switch) 19
determines which source is used. The SW16 slide switch can be used to turn on/off the board. 20
A power-good LED (LD20), indicates that the power supply is turned on and operates normally. 21
After turning on the board, the FPGA must be configured (or programmed). You can configure the FPGA in 22
one of the three ways: A PC can use the USB-JTAG port to program the FPGA any time the power is on. or A programming 23
file can be transferred from a USB memory stick attached to the USB port. 24
or finally, A file stored in the nonvolatile serial (SPI) flash device can be transferred to the FPGA 25
using the SPI port. 26
These three ways are also known as programming modes. The JP1 jumper selects one of these programming 27
modes. 28
After being successfully programmed, the "DONE" LED will be illuminated. Pressing the "PROG" button at any time 29
will reset the configuration memory in the FPGA. 30
After being reset, the FPGA will immediately attempt to reprogram itself from whatever method has been 31
selected by the programming mode jumper. 32
The Basys3 board includes: sixteen slide switches, five pushbuttons, sixteen individual LEDs, and a four-digit 33
seven-segment display. The pushbuttons and slide switches are connected to the FPGA via series resistors 34
to prevent damage from any possible short circuits. 35
The sixteen individual high-efficiency LEDs arranged in a common cathode structure. 36
Their anodes are connected to the FPGA via 330-ohm resistors, so they will turn on when 37
a logic high voltage is applied to their respective I/O pin. Along the course, we use C functions to 38
work with these basic I/Os. 39
This would be the next lecture question. Why should we spend our time to learn HLS and FPGA while there 40
are other new computing platforms such as GPUs and multi-core CPUs. 41
Probably the shortest answer to this question is the efficiency of FPGAs in implementing new applications. 42
These are the takeaway messages: This course uses the entry-level Basys-3 evaluation board. 43
This board provides several input/output mechanisms for its FPGA. 44
This board can be used for implementing a wide range of applications including: Combinational circuits, 45
Sequential designs, Controller circuits, and embedded processors. 46
Now the quiz task. Take your Basys-3 board, turn that on, and find different components 47
on the board and play with its default FPGA configuration