CycloFlex FPGA Development Board

 

CycloFlex FPGA Development System





CYCLOFLEX FPGA
DEVELOPMENT BOARD

 


The CycloFlex is an FPGA development board that is designed for the intermediate
user with some experience designing FPGA projects.


The CycloFlex is packed with powerful features. The core of the CycloFlex
is the Altera Cyclone 10 FPGA. This powerful chip has 16,000 Logic Elements
and 504Kbits of Memory. The board includes a 128Mbit Serial Flash chip which
allows the board to store up user code for using the FPGA as RISC V soft processor.
There are three Green Seven Segment LED Displays, RGB LED and Eight User
LEDs. It allows the creation of more diverse projects than beginner projects.

CycloFlex Front Side Up


Please Note: The CycloFlex Does Not Contain On Board Programmer.
JTAG Programming and Configuration Flash Programming must be
performed by external Programmer Purchased Separately.

This board provides a powerful platform for developing and debugging
programmable logic code. It has been designed from the ground up to provide the
functionality needed for the demanding projects from todays students and hobbyists.
The board provides a convenient, user-friendly work flow by connecting seamlessly
with Altera’s Quartus Prime Lite software. The user will develop the code
in the Quartus environment on a Windows Personal Computer. The programmable
logic code is loaded into the FPGA using only the Quartus Programmer tool.


CycloFlex FPGA Development Board

  • Cyclone 10 10CL016 FPGA From ALTERA
  • 16,000 Logic Elements; 504 Kbit On Chip SRAM
  • 64 Available I/O’s at connectors
  • Three Seven Segment LEDs
  • 8 Green User configurable LEDs
  • RGB LED
  • 2 User Configurable Pushbutton Switches
  • On Board 128Mbyte Flash
  • Two Power options: Standard USB (+5V @ 2Amp) Using USB-C connector;
  • 5mm Barrel Connector Accepts +12V @ 3Amp
  • One Clock: 50MHz Oscillator
  • On board USB to Slave SPI Adapter for high speed communications

CycloFlex Callouts


Two Programming Options on the CycloFlex

The CycloFlex allows the user to choose between Direct JTAG programming
using the *.sof file and programming the configuration Flash with a flick
of a switch.

CycloFlex Callouts JTAG Programming

Configuring the Cyclone 10 FPGA on the CycloFlex is the process of
programming the compiled/synthesized user project into the FPGA. Once the
FPGA is configured with the user project, the CycloFlex board is usable with
the code. There are two methods to configure the Cyclone 10 FPGA

  • Direct JTAG access
  • On Board Configuration Flash chip

CycloFlex Programming


JTAG Access to the Cyclone 10

Direct JTAG access allows the Quartus Prime Lite software to program the
object file directly into the FPGA using JTAG. This will configure the FPGA
with the user project using volatile memory. If the power is removed from the
Cyclone 10, the chip will lose its configuration.

CycloFlex Programming


Configuration Flash Programming

The Cyclone 10 FPGA requires configuration before it can be used to perform
the functions of the user code. The CycloFlex board includes a 4Mbit Configuration
Flash chip that is designed to store the user code. Then, when the power is cycled
(On/Off), the FPGA will read the contents of the Configuration Flash and set up the
functionality of the user code within the chip. The user will program a *.pof file
into the flash chip using Quartus.

CycloFlex Programming


CycloFlex Communications

The CycloFlex has an on board USB to SPI Serial FTDI chip to
connect directly to the FPGA. This chip is the FT220X chip which
allows a Host PC to communicate with the FPGA.

CycloFlex  Connected to Host PC

CycloFlex

CycloFlex Front Top Down Angle


THE CYCLOFLEX HARDWARE

The CycloFlex is Hardware based on the Cyclone 10 FPGA. The board has
64 Inputs and Outputs connected to 0.1 Inch Headers at the board edge. These
are organized as eight 10 pin connectors to allow users to connect to off
board circuits. Some of the headers contain +3.3VDC and Ground connections.

CycloFlex Block Diagram

The CycloFlex contains three Seven Segment LED Displays. These displays are
controlled by I/O pins from the FPGA. The user manual explains how to write user
to display characters on the Displays

CycloFlex Block Diagram

The CycloFlex has a Serial Flash chip on the bottom right board. This allows
the user to create a powerful Soft Core Processor within the FPGA. Processor
code can be loaded into the Flash Chip via the USB to SPI Serial link. The
user can then execute code out of the Flash Chip. The 50MHz oscillator on board
makes this a powerful project for the intermediate FPGA user. The CycloFlex Board
is the perfect board for powerful projects.

CycloFlex Right Side Angle


THE CYCLOFLEX AND SIMULATION

Simulation has always been a weak point for students and hobbyists. Most
FPGA beginners write the user code, compile it, synthesize it, program the chip
then test out the results. While this approach may work for small, simple
designs, it quickly becomes a problem with larger projects. As the user code
increases in complexity, better development tools are required to quickly
isolate problems. The premier method for this is functional testing.

CycloFlex Right Side Angle

ModelSim is included Free with the Quartus Prime Package. ModelSim is a
powerful tool for finding errors in the user code before you go to synthesis.
Earth People Technology has created a guide that walks the user through
creating a project and verifying functionality of user code. This guide will
explain the use of the TestBench, Tasks, and Models in verification of the user
code. In specifics, the guide will explain:

  • Create a ModelSim Project
  • Create a Makefile and Compilation of user code
  • Create a TestBench and Stimulus of user code
  • Add Synopsys Design Constraints,
  • Assign Inputs and Outputs to pins of the Cyclone 10
  • Create Models for user code to Interact With
  • Add Clock Signals, Resets, and Timing Elements
  • Debug the Functionality of user code
In short, the CycloFlex will cut the time to get the time to get up and running
significantly. We also include several pre-made, fully compiled, fully synthesized
projects for the user. You can start your project by copying one of these premade
projects and adding user code.

Downloads

85-000012 CycloFlex FPGA Development System User Manual CYC_MAX_FPGA_DEV_SYS_UM.pdf
95-000013 MaxProLogic FPGA Development System Data Sheet CYCLOFLEX_FPGA_DEV_SYS_DS.pdf
45-000013 CycloFlex FPGA Development System Project DVD CYCLOFLEX FPGA PROJECT DVD
55-000013 CycloFlex FPGA Development System Schematics CYCLOFLEX SCHEMATICS.pdf
35-000001 EPT Drivers EPT_2.08.24.ZIP

$74.99

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