AN 717: Nios II Gen2 Hardware Development Tutorial

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ID 683615
Date 9/22/2014
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Hardware Development Tutorial
1. Hardware Development Tutorial x
1.1. Software and Hardware Requirements 1.2. 1.3. Design Example 1.4. System Development Flow 1.5. Creating the Design Example 1.6. Document Revision History
1.4. System Development Flow x
1.4.1. Analyzing System Requirements 1.4.2. Defining and Generating the System in 1.4.3. Integrating the System into the Project 1.4.4. Developing Software with the Software Build Tools for Eclipse 1.4.5. Running and Debugging Software on the Target Board 1.4.6. Varying the Development Flow
1.5. Creating the Design Example x
1.5.1. Install the Design Files 1.5.2. Analyze System Requirements 1.5.3. Start the Software and Open the Example Project 1.5.4. Create a New System 1.5.5. Define the System in 1.5.6. Integrate the System into the Project 1.5.7. Download the Hardware Design to the Target FPGA 1.5.8. Develop Software Using the SBT for Eclipse 1.5.9. Run the Program on Target Hardware
1.5.5. Define the System in x
1.5.5.1. Specify Target FPGA and Clock Settings 1.5.5.2. Add the On-Chip Memory 1.5.5.3. Add the Processor Core 1.5.5.4. Add the JTAG UART 1.5.5.5. Add the Interval Timer 1.5.5.6. Add the System ID Peripheral 1.5.5.7. Add the PIO 1.5.5.8. Specify Base Addresses and Interrupt Request Priorities 1.5.5.9. Generate the System
1.5.6. Integrate the System into the Project x
1.5.6.1. Instantiate the System Module in the Project 1.5.6.2. Add IP Variation File 1.5.6.3. Assign FPGA Device 1.5.6.4. Assign FPGA Pin Locations 1.5.6.5. Set Timing 1.5.6.6. Compile the Project and Verify Timing
1.5.8. Develop Software Using the SBT for Eclipse x
1.5.8.1. Create a New Application and BSP from Template 1.5.8.2. Compile the Project
1. Hardware Development Tutorial

1.3. Nios II Design Example

The design example you build in this tutorial demonstrates a small Nios II system for control applications, that displays character I/O output and blinks LEDs in a binary counting pattern. This Nios II system can also communicate with a host computer, allowing the host computer to control logic inside the FPGA.

The example Nios II system contains the following components:

  • Nios II/e processor core
  • On-chip memory
  • Timer
  • JTAG UART
  • 8-bit parallel I/O (PIO) pins to control the LEDs
  • System identification component
Figure 1. Nios II Design Example Block DiagramThe block diagram shows the relationship between the host computer, the target board, the FPGA, and the Nios II system.

Other logic can exist within the FPGA alongside the Nios II system. In fact, most FPGA designs with a Nios II system also include other logic. A Nios II system can interact with other on-chip logic, depending on the needs of the overall system. This design example does not include other logic in the FPGA.

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