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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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17 years ago

SPI using DMA-Controller

Hello,

this is my first thread here and I am a newbie. So I hope my questions aren't too stupid. :D

Currently I am trying to create a SPI Connection between 2 FPGAs. This Connection should work independently from the CPUs of the FPGAs.

The CPU of the first FPGA shall write data to RAM and post a send request to the DMA-Controller. After that, the DMA-Controller shall transmit the data to the second FPGA using a SPI-Connection. The CPU of both FPGAs should be able to process other tasks at the same time.

[CPU]--[RAM]--[DMA-Ctrl]--[SPI-Master] - - - - - - - [SPI-Slave]--[DMA-Ctrl]--[RAM]--[CPU]

The first thing I need to know is, if it is possible to create this system.

The second questions is, if I can use a standard DMA-Controller or if I have to develop a customized DMA-Controller, which knows how to handle SPI.

I would be glad, if someone could help me.

Thanks in advance

drak0r

2 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    Hello,

    I'd be suprised if you find a DMA controller with SPI.

    You could use an existing DMA controller and add an SPI interface onto it. So your processor writes thh data to memory and the DMA controller then reads it out and "SPIerizes" it
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    First of all: Sure, it is possible to create this system. The devil may be in the details. If you transmit a data paket from the master to the slave then the master CPU will know about the amount of data. The slave DMA controller might not. Somebody must tell the slave DMA controller how many data bytes will be sent and the DMA controller should have means to interrupt the slave CPU when this amount has been received. Having said this I guess that it might be best if you write your own DMA controllers.

    Harald