Lattice Semiconductor CertusPro-NX

Other manuals for Lattice Semiconductor CertusPro-NX

Usage Guide171 pages

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Lattice Semiconductor CertusPro-NX and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board Kit Contents

Using the CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board

Installing Software for CertusPro-NX

Powering and Observing the Demo Program

Advanced Use and Resources for CertusPro-NX

The CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board is a versatile platform designed to facilitate the development and testing of solutions utilizing the CertusPro-NX FPGA. This board serves as an introductory tool, providing a hands-on experience for users to explore the capabilities of the CertusPro-NX device.

Function Description

The primary function of the CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board is to provide a comprehensive environment for designing, implementing, and verifying digital logic circuits using the CertusPro-NX FPGA. It acts as a bridge between a user's design concepts and the physical implementation on the FPGA, allowing for rapid prototyping and iteration. The board is equipped with various interfaces and components that support a wide range of applications, from basic LED blinking demonstrations to more complex data processing and communication tasks.

At its core, the board features the CertusPro-NX FPGA, which is the central processing unit for all user-defined logic. This FPGA is supported by an external SPI Flash Configuration Memory, which stores the configuration bitstream for the FPGA. Upon power-up, the FPGA loads its configuration from this memory, enabling the programmed functionality. The board is designed to support Master-SPI based configuration, a common method for loading FPGA designs.

For power management, the board includes a 12 V DC power jack, which connects to a supplied AC/DC adapter. Internal power regulation circuits convert this input to the various voltage rails required by the FPGA and other components, such as 5V, 3V, 1V8 (VDD), and 2V5 (VCC2V5). Power LEDs are strategically placed to indicate the status of these voltage rails, providing visual feedback that the board is correctly powered.

Input/output capabilities are extensive, allowing for interaction with external devices and systems. An I/O Extended Area provides access to a multitude of general-purpose input/output pins from the FPGA, enabling users to connect custom peripherals or expansion boards. For high-speed serial communication, SerDes SMAs (SubMiniature A connectors) are available, facilitating the testing of high-bandwidth interfaces. The board also includes an FMC (FPGA Mezzanine Card) Connector, which is a standardized interface for adding high-performance mezzanine cards, further expanding the board's functionality with specialized modules like ADCs, DACs, or communication interfaces.

User interaction and debugging are supported through several features. Push buttons provide simple digital inputs for control or triggering events within the FPGA design. User LEDs offer visual feedback for debugging or displaying status information from the FPGA. A potentiometer provides an analog input, which can be used for variable control or as a source for analog-to-digital conversion experiments. An ADC Test Header is also present, likely providing access points for testing analog signals or connecting external analog-to-digital converters.

For communication with a host PC, the board incorporates a Mini USB port connected to an FTDI chip. This setup enables programming of the FPGA and the external SPI Flash, as well as providing a serial communication channel for debugging or data transfer between the FPGA and the PC. This is crucial for loading new designs, monitoring FPGA behavior, and interacting with software running on the host.

Additional features include SMA1/SMA2 DIP Switches, which likely control specific operating modes or configurations of the board, offering flexibility in setting up different test scenarios. PMOD (Peripheral Module) Connectors are also included, providing a standardized interface for connecting a wide array of small, low-cost peripheral modules, such as sensors, displays, or communication interfaces, further enhancing the board's versatility.

Usage Features

The CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board is designed for ease of use, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced FPGA developers.

Out-of-the-Box Demonstration: The board comes pre-programmed with a basic LED blinking demonstration program stored in the external SPI Flash Configuration Memory. This allows users to immediately observe the board's functionality upon power-up, confirming that it is operational without requiring any initial programming. The green, yellow, and red indicator LEDs illuminate in a repeating pattern, providing immediate visual feedback.
Simple Power-Up Procedure: Powering the board is straightforward. Users need to ensure that specific jumpers (JP6 closed, JP3 removed) are correctly set, connect the USB cable to a PC, and then connect the supplied 12 V DC power adapter to the J40 input. The illumination of power LEDs confirms successful power-up, and the FPGA's configuration from external memory is completed almost immediately, leading to the execution of the pre-loaded demo.
Software Development Environment: To develop custom solutions, users can download and utilize the Lattice Radiant design software (version 3.0 or later). This comprehensive software suite provides all the necessary tools for designing, synthesizing, placing and routing, and generating bitstreams for the CertusPro-NX FPGA. It offers a graphical user interface and powerful features to streamline the FPGA development workflow.
Reprogramming Capability: For users who only need to reprogram the board with a new bitstream, the Radiant Programmer Standalone software (version 3.0 or later) can be used. This dedicated programmer tool simplifies the process of loading new designs onto the FPGA or updating the contents of the SPI Flash, without requiring the full design suite.
Extensive Documentation and Resources: Lattice Semiconductor provides a wealth of resources to support users. The official website offers access to the full User's Guide, which details the board's architecture, component descriptions, and usage instructions. Furthermore, the full source code of the default demo program is available, serving as an excellent starting point and reference for new designs. Other resources, such as application notes and tutorials, are also provided to assist users in leveraging the board's capabilities.
Expandability with Standard Interfaces: The inclusion of an FMC Connector and PMOD Connectors significantly enhances the board's expandability. These standardized interfaces allow users to easily integrate a wide variety of off-the-shelf modules, from high-speed data converters to various sensors and communication interfaces, without the need for custom PCB design. This modularity accelerates prototyping and allows for testing diverse applications.
Debugging and Monitoring: The presence of User LEDs, push buttons, and the Mini USB interface (for serial communication) provides essential tools for debugging and monitoring FPGA designs. Users can program the LEDs to indicate internal states, use push buttons to trigger events, and send diagnostic information over the serial port to a PC, facilitating the identification and resolution of design issues.

Maintenance Features

While the CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board is primarily a development tool and not a field-deployable product, certain aspects relate to its care and longevity.

Robust Construction: The board is built with standard PCB manufacturing processes, ensuring a certain level of physical robustness for typical lab environments. The components are securely soldered, and the board itself is designed to withstand repeated handling during development and testing.
Software Updates and Support: Lattice Semiconductor regularly releases updates for its Radiant design software and programmer tools. Users are encouraged to keep their software up-to-date to benefit from bug fixes, performance improvements, and support for new features or operating systems. Technical support is available through the Lattice Semiconductor website, providing assistance for any issues encountered during development.
Component Longevity: The electronic components used on the board are selected for reliability and typical operational lifespans. While not designed for extreme industrial environments, they are suitable for continuous operation within a development setting.
Care and Handling: To ensure the longevity and proper functioning of the board, users should adhere to standard practices for handling electronic devices. This includes avoiding static discharge, protecting the board from physical shock or excessive force, and operating it within specified environmental conditions (temperature, humidity). Proper connection and disconnection of cables and modules are also important to prevent damage to connectors.
Documentation for Troubleshooting: The comprehensive User's Guide and other documentation serve as valuable resources for troubleshooting. If the board does not power up correctly, or if the demo program does not run, the documentation provides guidance on checking power connections, jumper settings, and other common issues.
Modular Component Replacement (Limited): While individual components on the board are not typically user-replaceable, the modular nature provided by FMC and PMOD connectors allows for easy swapping of peripheral modules if they become faulty or if different functionalities are required. This reduces the need to replace the entire evaluation board if a connected peripheral experiences an issue.

In summary, the CertusPro-NX Evaluation Board is a well-rounded development platform that combines essential FPGA hardware with user-friendly software and extensive support resources, making it an effective tool for bringing CertusPro-NX based designs to life.