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ZhiqiangLiang's avatar
ZhiqiangLiang
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7 months ago

Configure NIOS firmware burning interface

Hi, I would like to run NIOS II in FPGA. I am now use Cyclone 10 LP 10CL120. I have a few questions: 1) how to enable/configure UART burning interface in Quartus Platform Designer? 2) If I don't...
Embedded Applications Layer
JitLoonL_Altera's avatar
JitLoonL_Altera
Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
7 months ago

Hi,

1) how to enable/configure UART burning interface in Quartus Platform Designer?

  • Open Platform Designer: Go to Tools > Platform Designer in Quartus Prime.
  • Add UART Component: In the Platform Designer, add the UART component from the IP catalog.
  • Configure UART: Set the parameters for the UART, such as baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity.
  • Connect UART Signals: Connect the UART signals to the appropriate pins on the FPGA. Ensure the uart_tx and uart_rx signals are correctly mapped.

2) If I don't enable/config UART burning interface, is there any other way to burn firmware to NIOS on FPGA?

  • JTAG Interface: Use the JTAG interface to program the FPGA. This is the most common method and is supported by Quartus Prime.
  • Flash Memory: Program the firmware into flash memory and configure the FPGA to load the firmware from flash during boot.

3) If I configure RAM and ROM size for NIOS, I don't know what is the maximum size I can set as I don't know what is the remained resource in FPGA?

  • Open Platform Designer: Go to Tools > Platform Designer.
  • Add On-Chip Memory Component: From the IP catalog, add the On-Chip Memory (RAM or ROM) component.
  • Set Memory Size: Configure the memory width and total size based on your requirements. The maximum size depends on the available resources in the FPGA.
  • Check Resource Utilization: Use the Quartus Prime compilation report to check the remaining resources in the FPGA and adjust the memory size accordingly.

4) in Platform Designer, if I create a New Component, it is very difficult to config "Signals & Inferfaces" in Compent Editor. For example, what is conduit? how to config AXI4 Lite Slave interface?

  • Conduit: A conduit is used to group signals that are not part of a standard interface. It allows you to create custom connections between components.
  • AXI4 Lite Slave Interface: To configure an AXI4 Lite Slave interface, use the template provided in the Component Editor. Ensure you add all required signals (e.g., awaddr, wdata, bresp) and match the bus widths.

5) if I enable/configure SPI or Ethernet, is the C driver enabled in Eclipse? how to enable the driver?

  • Install NIOS II EDS: Ensure you have the NIOS II Embedded Design Suite (EDS) installed.
  • Create a New Project: In Eclipse, create a new NIOS II application project.
  • Add Driver Support: Include the SPI or Ethernet driver in your project. You can find these drivers in the BSP (Board Support Package) settings.
  • Enable Driver: Configure the BSP settings to enable the SPI or Ethernet driver. This will include the necessary headers and libraries in your project.

Hope this help.