FPGAs and Embebbed Processors

Overview

This course will provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of how embedded styled systems can be implemented within a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and discuss how FPGAs can be used as a platform for System-on-Chip (SoC) styled designs. An introduction to FPGAs and their DSP capabilities will be presented along with a detailed overview of the embedded processor and connectivity options that are available.

The course has a significant practical element using the Xilinx Embedded tool flow which will be used by attendees to implement simple hybrid software/ hardware DSP algorithms. Attendees will develop existing Intellectual Property (IP) cores into hardware co-processors and combine these with soft processor cores using the various connectivity options available. Hardware/software debugging techniques will also be presented and demonstrated.

Course Aim

To teach participants how to design and implement embedded systems within FPGA technologies with particular focus on how to develop and integrate DSP styled co-processors within such systems.

The course will include:

• Introduction to FPGAs
• System-on-Chip
• FPGA Technology
• FPGA Embedded Processors
• Digital Signal Processing and FPGAs
• Xilinx Embedded Tool Environment
• Introduction to Embedded Systems
• FPGA Embedded Processor Systems.

Achievable Skills

On successful completion of the course, attendees will be able to:

• Appreciate the current applications and capabilities of FPGAs
• Understand FPGA architectures and differences between FPGA families
• Relate traditional microprocessor/ microcontroller design, implementation and test techniques to those used within embedded FPGA systems
• Appreciate and relate System-on-Chip (SoC) design methodologies to embedded FPGA system design
• Understand the concept of Intellectual Property (IP) Cores and their use within the SoC design methodology
• Gain knowledge of on-chip network topologies and current available standards
• Understand the use of Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and their use within embedded FPGA systems
• Be aware of the various architectures and capabilities of embedded FPGA processors
• Understand how to use embedded processors within FPGAs to implement DSP algorithms
• Appreciate how hardware acceleration using co-processors can be used to overcome software performance bottlenecks
• Understand how to interface IP Cores to embedded FPGA processors
• Appreciate how multi-processor systems may be implemented within FPGAs
• Use SoC design methodologies and tool flows to implement embedded systems within an FPGA
• Use embedded software tools to implement a DSP software/hardware hybrid design within an FPGA
• Use embedded software tools to perform hardware and software debug of FPGA systems
• Perform software profiling to identify performance bottlenecks.

Course Presentation

The course format is 50% Lectures, 40% Hands-on Labs (Xilinx Embedded Tool Flow) and 10% Demonstrations.

Laboratory Sessions

The laboratory sessions for this course will be based upon the Xilinx Embedded and DSP design flows. Xilinx XPS, ISETM and System Generator for DSP software tools will be used to design Embedded DSP systems for the Xilinx XUP development kit.