H1 Lattice Mico32 FPGA embedded processor

Implementing and programming a processor core in an FPGA


Goals
	Understand the process of creating a system with an FPGA-embedded processor
		Assembling the hardware platform
		Installation of FPGA
		Programming of application software
		Final Integration

	Master the particulars of the Open Source MICO32 core:
		Software architecture
		Wishbone bus
		Standard peripherals: UART, Ethernet (10/100/1000) ...

	Learn to program a the platform using Eclipse.
	Discover installing uClinux and micrium uC/OSII on the platform
This course teachs you how to control the creation of a platform using an embedded CPU. All exercises are done on a board with the Lattice ECP2 Open Source MICO32 core; installation and use of Micrium uC/OSII and uClinux will be presented quickly.


Course Material
	A Windows PC per two trainees
		The Lattice Diamond FPGA programming tool
		The MSB tool for creating Mico32 Open Source platform
		The software development environment (based on Eclipse)
		The installation of the platform on uClinux and uC/OSII

	A Lattice ECP2 target board
	Printed handouts of the course slides
	Labs presentation and solutions
Prerequisite
	Basic understanding of processor architecture
	Good knowledge of VHDL programming (course V1 level)
	Knowledge of embedded programming in C (if possible course L2 level)
	For a good understanding of installing uClinux it is desirable to have a basic knowledge of
		Embedded Linux (see course D1) to understand the uClinux boot process
		Linux programming (see course D0) for Linux programming exercises

Outline


First day
Platform development process
	Definition of the platform
		Creation of the physical architecture of the system
		Choice of characteristics and design

	VHDL code generation of the platform
	Implementation of the platform
		Verification of the platform
		Creation of the bitstream for programming the FPGA

	Programming the platform
		Choice of software infrastructure
		Programming in C and assembler
Platform definition with the Mico System Builder
	Selecting core options
		Caches
		Interrupt controller

	Memory selection and configuration
		Internal RAM and ROM
		External flash, serial and parallel
		SRAM and external DDRAM

	Choosing and configuring devices
		GPIOs
		Timer
		UART, SPI, I2C
		Ethernet
		DMA Controller

	Bus arbitration strategies
		Private or shared busses
		Static or dynamic arbitration

	Configuring the platform
		Connection of peripheral bussesto
		Connection of peripheral interrupt controllers and DMA
		Choice of addresses and interrupts

	Checking the consistency of the platform
	VHDL code generation of the platform
Second day
Platform implementation
	Behavioral Simulation
		Using the testbench generated by the MSB

	Synthesis according to the chosen FPGA
		Definition of inputs / outputs
		Placement
		Routing

	After routing simulation
		Checking timings
		Control processing speed

	FPGA programming
		Generating the bitstream
		Transfer to the target
Platform programming
	C programming
		The Eclipse-based programming environment
		Program Runtime Environment
		Programming and code generation constraints
		Linker memory definition

	Simulation on the development station
		Using the MICO32 platform simulator

	Transfer to the target
	Cross debugging
		Use of GDB to cross-debug the program on the target
Install and use of micrium uC/OSII
	Installing micrium uC/OSII on the target platform
		Specific platform requirements for uC/OSII
		Configuration uC/OSII to fit the platform
		Create a simple program
		Recompile
		Transfer on the target
		Cross-debug
Third day
Install and use uClinux
	Installing u-boot on the target
		Specific platform requirements for u-boot and uClinux
		Configuring u-boot to fit the platform
		Recompile u-boot
		Transfer on the target
		Auto-test of the platform by u-boot

	Installing uClinux
		Configure the Linux kernel
		Choice of boot parameters

	Creation of programs for uClinux
		Compilation under Eclipse for uClinux
		Cross-debug
Creating custom components
	The Wishbone bus
		Bus topology and signals
		Master interfaces
		Slave interfaces

	Defining custom input/output components
		Creation of the component VHDL code
		Integration into the Mico System Builder
		Creation of a platform including the new component

	Use of custom components in software
		Creating a program using acomponent
		Notion of driver
System deployment
	Deployment of bitstreams in SPI flash
		Using the JTAG port to program the flash

	Deployment of tested code in parallel flash
		Creation of the flash programming infrastructure
		Reconfiguration of the application for execution from flash
		Deployment of an integrated application
		Deployment of a complete uClinux image

Duration	Cost	Calendar
3 days	1650 €
This course can be provided either in our Paris training center or, worldwide, on your premises.