FPGA for instrumentation

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marcelino

Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 8

20 Nov 2007 10:34 FPGA for instrumentation

I have this small background of programming VHDL codes using Xilinx. Now i wish to do it using FPGA itself, i wish to write my code to FPGA.

i am thinking of a very simple application to begin with, like a sensor integrated to the FPGA board then save the result or probably give an indication if the sensor saved a data to a memory.

My question is, what should I have to begin with...?
I have look over the Xilinx website and found some starter kits there. i was thinking of purchasing the Spartan 3 stater kit. Would this kit be sufficient for me to learn?

I am actually into instrumentations. I like integrating different sensors and actuators. Can anyone suggest a better kit for me?

Thank you very much.

echo47

Joined: 07 Apr 2002
Posts: 4206
Helped: 566

20 Nov 2007 10:53 FPGA for instrumentation

Yes, that's a good little starter kit. It's inexpensive, and you can learn a lot from it. It has a rather small FPGA, and it doesn't have many fancy features, but it's easy to connect external devices. The board and various optional accessory modules are actually made by Digilent:
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=S3BOARD

marcelino

Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 8

20 Nov 2007 11:03 Re: FPGA for instrumentation

thanks echo.
I thought only xilinx manufacture such boards.. i will now browse over deligent. I guess i have to look for a more I/O port board so that i can interface more sensors...

--- bless.

echo47

Joined: 07 Apr 2002
Posts: 4206
Helped: 566

23 Nov 2007 5:20 FPGA for instrumentation

Here's a nice list of FPGA boards from many companies:
http://www.fpga-faq.org/FPGA_Boards.shtml

marcelino

Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 8

24 Nov 2007 7:56 Re: FPGA for instrumentation

echo,

Are those USB ports connected to the FGPA board kit, that are supposedly for downloading and debugging the program can be use as an I/O port? I will actually interface a USB GSM modem... and the rest of the I/O port will be used for other applications sensing like temperature, moisture level, etc...
Can you recommend an FPGA board that has a USB port that can be used an I/O port?

thank you?

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echo47

Joined: 07 Apr 2002
Posts: 4206
Helped: 566

25 Nov 2007 7:44 FPGA for instrumentation

Some Xilinx FPGA boards have a USB port that's used only to configure the FPGA. It's not intended for general USB I/O, although you may find some tricky way of getting data through it.

The Xilinx/Digilent Spartan-3 Stater Kit doesn't include a USB port, but you could add a Digilent USB2 accessory module:
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=USB2&Nav1=Products&Nav2=Accessory

I haven't explored the USB ports on other boards.