iPOINT: FPGA Controller

• iPOINT FPGA Switch (Xilinx 4013PG223-5) (1 device)
• iPOINT FPGA Queue Control (Xilinx 4005PC84-5) (4 devices)
• iPOINT Trunk Transmit Control (Xilinx 4005PC84-4) (1 device)
• iPOINT Trunk Receiver Queue Control (Xilinx 4005PC84-4) (4 devices)
• iPOINT Trunk Converter (Xilinx 4005PC84-6) (4 devices)

To ease the programming of these devices, a random-access FPGA controller was constructed (as shown below). One input of this controller connects to the Xilinx xchecker cable (attached to a Sun workstation). The other input connects to the iPOINT Switch controller (A 486DX266 running LINUX). The outputs of the controller attach to the FPGA devices.

When the system "boots", each of the FPGA designs are sequentially programmed. For designs that load into multiple devices, the programming occurs in parallel.

Once the system is running, any of the FPGA designs can be selected and reprogrammed. The box includes manual switches (for selection from the front panel) and automatic mode (for selection at the UNIX command line).

Automatic operation of the FPGA controller is as follows: First, a command is first sent to the iPOINT controller to select the device number. The iPOINT controller, in turn, demultiplexes the xchecker cable to the appropriate FPGA device(s). Finally, the xchecker cable is used to download the design bitstream.

More information on the FPGA designs can be found on the FPGA design page.