APS X84 FPGA VHDL
Synthesis Lab Book
A NO NONSENSE guide and tutorial designed to get you from concept
through VHDL coding, synthesis, routing and into the hardware quickly !

Introduction

- Hardware (APS-X84 FPGA Test Board)
- Software (XILINX Foundation Kits)
- Equipment

FPGA Basics
VHDL Introduction
- The Skeleton

- Entity
- Components
- Architecture

- LAB ONE " Simple FPGA AND"

- Topics Covered

- Editing VHDL Code
- Synthesis
- Routing
- Downloading to FPGA X84 board
- Real time Control of the design

VHDL Types

- Constants
- Signals
- Variables

VHDL Objects

- Integers
- std_logic
- std_logic_vector

Language Elements

- Operators
- IF statement
- Case Statement
- Loops

- LAB TWO "Selectable Logic Gates"

- Topics Covered

- State Machines using Case Statement

PROCESSes

- Using Sensitivity Lists
- Using WAIT Statement

- LAB THREE "Latched And"

- Topics Covered

- Edge Triggers
- Logic Storing (Memory)
- Processes

Include Stuff

- Libraries
- Packages
- Functions and Procedures

- LAB FOUR "Divider /Counter"

- Topics Covered

- Using INTEGERS as counters
- Including/writing a Package
- Using a Logic Analyzer with the X84 Board

- LAB FIVE "Bring Out Test Points"

- Topics Covered

- Bringing out Hardware Test Points
- Using a Logic Analyzer (PodAlyzer)

Advanced Labs

- LAB SIX "PROGRAMMABLE PN GENERATOR"
- LAB SEVEN "A MATCHED FILTER CORRELATOR"

MODULAR Code Design

- CHIPS vs MACROs
- COMPONENT INSTANTIATION

- LAB EIGHT "A BIT ERROR RATE TESTER"

- Using predeveloped VHDL MACROs

Recommended VHDL Do's and Don'ts

Websites

Associated Professional Systems (APS)
XILINX
ALDEC
BOULDER CREEK ENGINEERING