{"id":8524,"date":"2016-02-14T11:42:06","date_gmt":"2016-02-14T09:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lukse.lt\/uzrasai\/?p=8524"},"modified":"2016-02-14T15:46:35","modified_gmt":"2016-02-14T13:46:35","slug":"practical-fpga-how-to-start-altera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lukse.lt\/uzrasai\/2016-02-practical-fpga-how-to-start-altera\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical FPGA: How to start (Altera)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"3_t\"<\/a>In this series of articles I will talk about how to start working with FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Even basic knowledge of FPGA\/CPLD architecture opens new understandings about hardware development possibilities especially if you are targeting real-time processing which might be complicated or impossible on modern CPU\/MCU running operating systems.<\/p>\n

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Development board<\/h3>\n

Some time ago I purchased cheap Altera EP2C5T144 development board from eBay it was collecting dust and waiting to serve it’s purpose. I will be using it for my tests today.<\/p>\n

\"3\"<\/a>

EP2C5T144 mini demo board<\/p><\/div>\n

USB Blaster for flashing compiled files was already included in the package. Whole kit was in a range of 30-40$ including shipping. There are multiple sellers on eBay, Aliexpress and other online shops – this board is pretty popular. Though Xilinx Spartan family is also pretty popular, I will talking about Altera this time.<\/p>\n

\"2\"<\/a>

USB Blaster<\/p><\/div>\n

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Installing tools<\/h3>\n

Altera provides free limited tools to work with it’s devices. Which is in most cases more than enough. It’s called Quartus II Web Edition<\/a>. At the moment newest version is 15.1, but support for older Cyclone II devices were discontinued in 13.1. Latest usable version is 13.0 SP1. Minor disadvantage – in order to download you will need to create account on Altera web page. There not much you can do wrong installing this software and I will not describe how to do this. In general press Next, Next, Next…<\/p>\n

First project<\/h3>\n

Now I will step through simple project creation. Provide project location, name and device to be used.<\/p>\n

New…<\/h4>\n
\"10\"<\/a>

Chose New Project Wizard…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"11\"<\/a>

Next ><\/p><\/div>\n

\"12\"<\/a>

Provide project path and name<\/p><\/div>\n

\"13\"<\/a>

Skip this step. Next ><\/p><\/div>\n

\"14\"<\/a>

Select Cyclone II Family and EP2C5T144 device<\/p><\/div>\n

\"15\"<\/a>

Leave as it is. Next ><\/p><\/div>\n

\"16\"<\/a>

Project summary<\/p><\/div>\n

\"17\"<\/a>

Fresh project window<\/p><\/div>\n

Configure pins<\/h4>\n

In order to make software know what pin properties and connected hardware you have to define it.<\/p>\n

\"20\"<\/a>

Click on Pin Planner<\/p><\/div>\n

\"21\"<\/a>

FPGA device footprint opens<\/p><\/div>\n

\"23\"<\/a>

Zoom, double click on desired pin and enter it’s name.<\/p><\/div>\n

This development board has following devices attached:<\/p>\n