Hardware/FPGARack/Programmation

General

For all programmation you first have to complete some steps, they are intend for the VHDL Template Design:

1. Create a Design
2. Test and Simulate the Design
3. Perform Task Flow Prepare for Synthesis
   1. Generate all VHDL Files
   2. Concatenate into a single VHDL File
   3. Trimming work libraries
4. Perform Task Flow Xilinx Project Navigator
   1. Updating the ISE (*.xise) Project file
   2. Launch ISE
5. Perform Task Generate Programmation File
   1. Synthesis
   2. P&R
   3. Generate Programmation File *.bit file
6. Manage Configuration Project (impact)
   1. Launch Impact
7. First part is done see below

FPGA Programing

If you want to program the FPGA directly, you can use the previously generated *.bit file. This programmation works with the Amontec Chameleon Programmer but the Official Xilinx USB programmer is recommended

Execute the following steps:

1. Perform a boundary Scan
   1. Initialise Chain (CTRL + i)

      

2. Left click on the FPGA symbol (turns green)

   

3. Right click on the FPGA
   1. Choose Assign new configuration file

      

   2. Choose previously generated *.bit file
   3. Choose No for Attaching SPI or BPI PROM

      

4. Right click on the FPGA
   1. Choose Program

      

   2. Choose Verify if you like (not necessary)

      

5. DONE

   

Flash Programmation

To program the FLASH you need to turn your *.bit into a *.mcs files witch can then be programmed through the FPGA into the Flash.

Flash programmation works ONLY with Official Xilinx USB Programmer

Create Flash *.mcs File

1. Choose Task Create PROM File

   

2. Dialog File PROM Formatter opens
   1. Choose BPI Flash -> Configure Single FPGA
   2. Click the First Arrow
   3. Choose Target FPGA Spartan 6
   4. Choose Storage Device (Bytes) 128M
   5. Click Add Storage Device
   6. Click the Second Arrow
   7. Choose your Output File Name
   8. Choose your Output File Location
   9. Set File Format to MCS
   10. Set Data Width to x16
   11. Click OK

       

3. Click OK on Add Device Dialog

   

   1. Choose you previously generated *.bit file
4. Click NO on the second Add Device Dialog

   

5. Dialog Multiboot BPI Revision and Data File Assignment opens
   1. Because we have only one program nothing can be changed here
   2. Click OK

      

6. Right click on the white canvas
   1. Choose Generate File

   

7. The Flash program file *.mcs is now created

NOTE

There has been issues where iMPACT crashed after this step with an unexpected error. You can simply restart iMPACT. A valid .mcs file is generated before the crash.

Programm *.mcs File

1. Perform a boundary Scan
   1. Initialise Chain (CTRL + i)

      

2. Right Click on the Blue SPI/BPI Symbol
   1. Choose Add SPI/BPI Flash

      

   2. Choose your previously generated *.mcs file
   3. Select Attached SPI/BPI
      1. Choose BPI PROM
      2. Select 28F128P30 <-- This can change accoring to your Flash size
      3. Select Data Width 16
      4. Click OK

         

3. Right Click on the new FLASH Symbol
   1. Choose Program

      

4. DONE