Getting Started with FPGAs : Digital Circuit Design, Verilog, and VHDL for Beginners

Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
About the Author and Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
   Who Is This Book For?
   What This Book Isn’t
   What’s in the Book?
   What You’ll Need
   Online Resources
1. Meet the FPGA
   A Brief History of FPGAs
   Popular FPGA Applications
   Comparing Common Digital Logic Components
      FPGAs vs. Microcontrollers
      FPGAs vs. ASICs
      FPGAs vs. Microcontrollers vs. ASICs
   Verilog and VHDL
   Summary
2. Setting Up Your Hardware and Tools
   Choosing an FPGA Development Board
   Requirements for the Book
   Setting Up Your Development Environment
      iCEcube2
      Diamond Programmer
   Project #1: Wiring Switches to LEDs
      Writing the Code
      Creating a New iCEcube2 Project
      Adding Pin Constraints
      Running the Build
      Connecting Your Development Board
      Programming the FPGA
   Summary
3. Boolean Algebra and the Look-Up Table
   Logic Gates and Their Truth Tables
      AND Gates
      OR Gates
      NOT Gates
      XOR Gates
      NAND Gates
      Other Gates
   Combining Gates with Boolean Algebra
   The Look-Up Table
   Project #2: Lighting an LED with Logic Gates
      Writing the Code
      Building and Programming the FPGA
   Summary
4. Storing State with the Flip-Flop
   How a Flip-Flop Works
      The Clock Signal
      A Flip-Flop in Action
      A Chain of Flip-Flops
   Project #3: Blinking an LED
      Writing the Code
      Adding Constraints
      Building and Programming the FPGA
   Combinational Logic vs. Sequential Logic
   The Dangers of Latches
   Resetting a Flip-Flop
   Look-Up Tables and Flip-Flops on a Real FPGA
   Summary
5. Testing Your Code with Simulation
   Why Simulation Matters
   FPGA Simulation Tools
   The Testbench
      Writing a Testbench
      Running a Testbench and Viewing Waveforms
   Project #4: Debouncing a Switch
      Measuring Time on an FPGA
      Writing the Code
      Creating the Testbench and Simulation
      Building and Programming the FPGA
   Self-Checking Testbenches
   Initial Signal Conditions
   On-FPGA Debugging
   Verification
   Summary
6. Common Fpga Modules
   Multiplexers and Demultiplexers
      Implementing a Multiplexer
      Implementing a Demultiplexer
   The Shift Register
      Delaying Data
      Converting Between Serial and Parallel Data
      Creating a Linear Feedback Shift Register
   Project #5: Selectively Blinking an LED
      Writing the Code
      Trying Another Way
      Comparing the Two Approaches
   Random Access Memory
      A RAM Implementation
      RAM on an FPGA
   FIFO: First In, First Out
      Input and Output Signals
      A FIFO Implementation
   Summary
7. Synthesis, Place and Route, and Crossing Clock Domains
   Synthesis
      Notes, Warnings, and Errors
      Non-synthesizable Code
   Place and Route
      Constraints
      Timing Errors
   Crossing Clock Domains
      Crossing from Slower to Faster
      Crossing from Faster to Slower
      Using a FIFO
      Addressing Timing Errors
   Summary
8. The State Machine
   States, Transitions, and Events
   Implementing a State Machine
      Using Two always or process Blocks
      Using One always or process Block
      Testing the Design
   State Machine Best Practices
   Project #6: Creating a Memory Game
      Planning the State Machine
      Organizing the Design
      Using the Seven-Segment Display
      Coding the Top-Level Module
      Coding the State Machine
      Testing the Memory Game
      Adding the Pin Constraints
      Building and Programming the FPGA
   Summary
9. Useful FPGA Primitives
   How to Create Primitives
      Instantiation
      The GUI Approach
   The Block RAM
      Features and Limitations
      Creation
   The Digital Signal Processing Block
      Analog vs. Digital Signals
      Common DSP Tasks
      Features
      Creation
   The Phase-Locked Loop
      How It Works
      Creation
   Summary
10. Numbers and Math
   Numerical Data Types
      Representing Signed vs. Unsigned Values
      Taking the Two’s Complement
      Sizing Signals Appropriately
      Converting Between Types in VHDL
   Performing Mathematical Operations
      Addition
      Subtraction
      Multiplication
      Multiplication by Powers of 2
      Division
   How FPGAs Implement Math Operations
   Working with Decimals
      Adding and Subtracting with Fixed Point
      Multiplying with Fixed Point
   Summary
11. Getting Data in and Out with I/O and Serdes
   Working with GPIO Pins
      I/O Buffers
      Electrical Characteristics
      Faster Data Transmission with Double Data Rate
   SerDes
      Parallel vs. Serial Communication
      Self-Clocking Signals
      How SerDes Works
   Summary
A. FPGA Development Boards
   The Nandland Go Board
   The Lattice iCEstick
   The Alchitry Cu
   Switching Between Boards
B. Tips for a Career in FPGA Engineering
   The Resume
   The Interview
   The Job Offer and Negotiation
   Summary
Glossary
Index