Using System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Technology to Design Embedded Systems

This paper describes the tools, techniques, and devices used to design embedded products with system–on-a-chip (SoC) type solutions using a large Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with an internal processor core. This new FPGA-based approach is called system-on-a-programmable-chip (SoPC ). The performance tradeoffs present in SoPC systems is compared to more traditional design approaches. Commercial devices, processor cores, and CAD tool flows are described. The issues in SoPC hardware/software design tradeoffs are examined and three example SoPC designs are presented as case studies

Field programmable gate array based multiple input multiple output transmitter

MIMO is an advanced antenna technology compared to Single Input Single output (SISO), Multiple Input Single Output (MISO), and Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) and is used to obtain high data rate in the system. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems have at least two transmitting antennas, each generating unique signals. However some applications may require three, four, or more transmitting devices to achieve the desired system performance. This thesis describes a comparison between different approaches like the microcontroller, ASICs and the FPGA available in the market for baseband signal generation. It also describes the design of a scalable MIMO transmitter, based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology that was selected among the processors due to its capability to provide reconfigurable hardware and software. Each module of the MIMO transmitter contains a FPGA, and associated digital-to-analog converters, I/Q modulators, and RF amplifiers needed to power one of the MIMO transmitters. The system is designed to handle up to a 10 Mbps data rate, and transmit signals in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM band --Abstract, page iii

Desarrollo de aplicaciones basadas en Linux Embedded en una arquitectura basada en Cyclone V SoC (System on Chip) de Altera

We attempt to integrate and start up the set of necessary tools to deploy the design cycle of embedded systems based on Embedded Linux on a "Cyclone V SoC" made by Altera. First, we will analyze the available tools for designing the hardware system of the SoCkit development kit, made by Arrow, which has a "Cyclone V SoC" system (based on a "ARM Cortex-A9 MP Core" architecture). When designing the SoCkit board hardware, we will create a new peripheral to integrate it into the hardware system, so it can be used as any other existent resource of the SoCkit board previously configured. Next, we will analyze the tools to generate an Embedded Linux distribution adapted to the SoCkit board. In order to generate the Linux distribution we will use, on the one hand, a software package from Yocto recommended by Altera; on the other hand, the programs and tools of Altera, Embedded Development Suite. We will integrate all the components needed to build the Embedded Linux distribution, creating a complete and functional system which can be used for developing software applications. Finally, we will study the programs for developing and debugging applications in C or C++ language that will be executed in this hardware platform, then we will program a Linux application as an example to illustrate the use of SoCkit board resources. RESUMEN Se pretende integrar y poner en funcionamiento el conjunto de herramientas necesarias para desplegar el ciclo de diseño de sistemas embebidos basados en "Embedded Linux" sobre una "Cyclone V SoC" de Altera. En primer lugar, se analizarán las diversas herramientas disponibles para diseñar el sistema hardware de la tarjeta de desarrollo SoCkit, fabricada por Arrow, que dispone de un sistema "Cyclone V SoC" (basado en una arquitectura "ARM Cortex A9 MP Core"). En el diseño hardware de la SoCkit se creará un periférico propio y se integrará en el sistema, pudiendo ser utilizado como cualquier otro recurso de la tarjeta ya existente y configurado. A continuación, también se analizarán las herramientas para generar una distribución de "Embedded Linux" adaptado a la placa SoCkit. Para generar la distribución de Linux se utilizará, por una parte, un paquete software de Yocto recomendado por Altera y, por otra parte, las propias herramientas y programas de Altera. Se integrarán todos los componentes necesarios para construir la distribución Linux, creando un sistema completo y funcional que se pueda utilizar para el desarrollo de aplicaciones software. Por último, se estudiarán las herramientas para el diseño y depuración de aplicaciones en lenguaje C ó C++ que se ejecutarán en esta plataforma hardware. Se pretende desarrollar una aplicación de ejemplo para ilustrar el uso de los recursos más utilizados de la SoCkit

The Design of an IEEE 1588 End-to-End Transparent Ethernet Switch

In measurement and control systems there is often a need to synchronise distributed clocks. Traditionally, synchronisation has been achieved using a dedicated medium to convey time information, typically using the IRIG-B serial protocol. The precision time protocol (IEEE 1588) has been designed as an improvement to current methods of synchronisation within a distributed network of devices. IEEE 1588 is a message based protocol that can be implemented across packet based networks including, but not limited to, Ethernet. Standard Ethernet switches introduce a variable delay to packets that inhibits path delay measurements. Transparent switches have been introduced to measure and adjust for packet delay, thus removing the negative effects that these variations cause. This thesis describes the hardware and firmware design of an IEEE 1588 transparent end-to-end Ethernet switch for Tekron International Ltd based in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. This switch has the ability to monitor all Ethernet traffic, identify IEEE 1588 timing packets, measure the delay that these packets experience while passing through the switch, and account for this delay by adjusting a time-interval field of the packet as it is leaving the switch. This process takes place at the operational speed of the port, and without introducing significant delay. Time-interval measurements can be made using a high-precision timestamp unit with a resolution of 1 ns. The total jitter introduced by this measurement process is just 4.5 ns through a single switch