Embedded SoPC Design with Nios II Processor and VHDL Examples
1. Edition October 2011
736 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
This book explores the unique hardware programmability of field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based embedded systems, using a learning-by-doing approach to introduce the embedded system on a programmable chip (SoPC) concept and development process to new designers through hands-on experiments. All the hardware and software examples can be synthesized, compiled, and physically tested on the prototyping board. The book contains a large number of practical examples, as well as a complete code listing and multi-week projects. It is written for upper-level undergraduate and entry-level graduate students in computer engineering, as well as practicing engineers who wish to learn SoPC-based development.
The book is divided into four major parts. Part I covers HDL constructs and synthesis of basic digital circuits. Part II provides an overview of embedded software development with the emphasis on low-level I/O access and drivers. Part III demonstrates the design and development of hardware and software for several complex I/O peripherals, including PS2 keyboard and mouse, a graphic video controller, an audio codec, and an SD (secure digital) card. Part IV provides three case studies of the integration of hardware accelerators, including a custom GCD (greatest common divisor) circuit, a Mandelbrot set fractal circuit, and an audio synthesizer based on DDFS (direct digital frequency synthesis) methodology.
The book utilizes FPGA devices, Nios II soft-core processor, and development platform from Altera Co., which is one of the two main FPGA manufactures. Altera has a generous university program that provides free software and discounted prototyping boards for educational institutions (details at http://www.altera.com/university). The two main educational prototyping boards are known as DE1 ($99) and DE2 ($269). All experiments can be implemented and tested with these boards. A board combined with this book becomes a "turn-key" solution for the SoPC design experiments and projects. Most HDL and C codes in the book are device independent and can be adapted by other prototyping boards as long as a board has similar I/O configuration.
Acknowledgments.
1. Ovweview of Embedded System.
Part I. Basic Digital Circuits Development.
2. Gate-level Combinational Circuit.
3. Overview of FPGA and EDA Software.
4. RT-level Combinational Circuit.
5. Regular Sequential Circuit.
6. FSM.
7. FSMD.
Part II. Basic NIOS II Software Development.
8. Nios II Processor Overview.
9. Nios II System Derivation and Low-Level Access.
10. Predesigned Nios II I/O Peripherals.
11. Predesigned Nios II I/O Drivers and HAL API.
12. Interrupt and ISR.
Part III. Custom I/O Peripheral Development.
13. Custom I/O Peripheral with PIO Cores.
14. Avalon Interconnect and SOPC Component.
15. SRAM and SDRAM Controllers.
16. PS2 Keyboard and Mouse.
17. VGA Controller.
18. Audio Codec Controller.
19. SD Card Controller.
IV. Hardware Accelerator Case Studies.
20. GCD Accelerator.
21. Mandelbrot Set Fractal Accelerator.
22. Direct Digital Frequency Synthesis.
References.
Topic Index.
