====== Getting started with the Xilinx Spartan-3AN Starter Kit ======


[ __[[vlsi:workbook:fpga#contents|Back to index]]__ ]
[ __[[vlsi:workbook:fpga:spartan3an:test|Test]]__ ]
[ __[[vlsi:workbook:fpga:spartan3an:programming|Programming options (tmp)]]__ ]
[ __[[vlsi:workbook:fpga:xilinx:spartan3an:ucf|UCF location constraints]]__ ]

== Contents ==

   * Introduction 
   * Reference documentation
   * ...
 

**Keywords:**



====== Introduction ======

Xilinx Spartan-3 boards and kits main page:  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards_kits/spartan.htm]]


Xilinx Spartan-3A starter kit: \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards-and-kits/HW-SPAR3A-SK-UNI-G.htm]]

====== Reference documentation ======


Very good getting started book:

P.P. Chu, //FPGA Prototyping By Verilog Examples Xilinx Spartan-3 Version//  \\
P.P. Chu, //FPGA Prototyping By VHDL Examples Xilinx Spartan-3 Version//


Xilinx official documentation: \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/index.html/content/xilinx/en/supportNav/boards_and_kits/spartan-3_kits/spartan-3a_starter_kit.html]]  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/index.html/content/xilinx/en/supportNav/boards_and_kits/spartan-3_kits/spartan-3an_starter_kit.html]]

//Spartan-3A/3AN Out of the box, now what?//  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/files/s3ask_out.pdf]]

//Spartan-3A/3AN FPGA Starter Kit Board User Guide//  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/ug334.pdf]]


//Spartan-3A/3AN Starter Kit Schematics//   \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/s3astarter_schematic.pdf]]


//Spartan-3 Generation Configuration User Guide//  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/user_guides/ug332.pdf]]



\\
Download the most important documentation:

<code>
cd ~/scratch/xilinx/doc/spartan3an
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/data_sheets/ds557.pdf
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/ug334.pdf
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/s3astarter_schematic.pdf
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/s3a_starter_gerbers.pdf
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/boards_and_kits/s3astarter_bom.xls
wget http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/user_guides/ug332.pdf 
</code>

====== Board ======

[[http://www.xilinx.com/images/image106303.jpg]]

{{:vlsi:workbook:fpga:xilinx:spartan3an:pictures:spartan3an_board.jpg?500}}






====== On-board embedded USB/JTAG programming interface ======

The board comes with an **integrated Platform Cable USB**.

[[http://xlnx.lithium.com/t5/Spartan-Family-FPGAs/Can-t-find-USB-on-the-Spartan-3A-AN-starter-board-schematic/td-p/180786]]


Xilinx **does not disclose** details (specs and schematics) about the 
USB Platform Cable design.


[[http://www.intilinux.com/programmazione/478/usare-le-board-xilinx-fpga-su-linux/]]



[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjZ5QwyZRrY]|
How to use Xilinx iMPACT without the windrv kernel module under Linux (YouTube vide tutorial)]]


[[http://www.fpgarelated.com/comp.arch.fpga/thread/43078/xilinx-platform-cable-usb-protocol-specifications-and-or-open-source-firmware-replacement.php]]


====== USB cable =====

The kit provides a **standard male A/B USB cable** for firmware downloads. Note that **this is NOT the official Xilinx USB cable**
provided by Xilinx! Just no more than a standard USB cable!

{{:vlsi:workbook:fpga:spartan3an:usb_ab_male_cable.jpg?300}}




:!: //**Note**// \\
Cable drivers for UNIX/Linux ?

Official page from Xilinx: \\
//Platform Cable USB/USB-II - Libusb Driver support available on Linux//  \\
[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/29310.html]]

Other resources:

   * [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CjZ5QwyZRrY]]
   * [[http://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/29310.htm]]
   * [[http://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/54381.htm]]
   * [[http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Design-Tools-Others/USB-Jtag-cable-drivers/td-p/394857]]
   * [[http://ashwith.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/setup-xilinx-ise-14-1-free-version-and-digilents-adept-utilities-in-fedora-17-64-bit/]]
   * [[http://aalonso.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/xilinx-11-4-on-fedora-12-playing-with-spartan-3e-starter-kit/]]
   * [[http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Installation-and-Licensing/How-to-install-Xilinx-ISE-and-USB-drivers-CentOS-5/td-p/54250/page/2]]
   * [[https://www.wrbishop.com/fpga/how-to-configure-xilinx-fpga-design-suite-13-3-under-rhelcentos-6-x-fedora-15/]]
   * [[http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/sw_manuals/xilinx13_1/pim_t_linux_cable_drivers.htm]]
   * [[http://rmdir.de/~michael/xilinx/]]
   * [[http://elinux.org/Install_Xilinx_USB_cable_drivers_for_Ubuntu]]
   * [[http://tingcao.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/install-xilinx-cable-drivers-on-32-bit-ubuntu/]]
   * [[http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Installation-and-Licensing/Installing-Xilinx-14-webpack-on-Ubuntu-12-04/td-p/248770]]
   * [[http://javispedro.com/fpga/xilinx-usb-linux.html]]
   * [[http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Design-Tools-Others/iMPACT-tips-for-modern-linux-distros/td-p/146486]]
   * [[http://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/22648.html]]
   * [[http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Xilinx_USB_JTAG_Programmers]]
   * [[http://www.george-smart.co.uk/wiki/Xilinx_JTAG_Linux]]
   * [[https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xilinx_ISE_WebPACK]]
   * [[http://ashwith.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/setup-xilinx-ise-14-1-free-version-and-digilents-adept-utilities-in-fedora-17-64-bit/]]
   * [[http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine/fpga-programming-linux]]


<code>
$ lsusb
...
Bus 002 Device 011: ID 03fd:000d Xilinx, Inc. 
</code>



Modified UDEV rule file:

<code>
ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0008", MODE="666"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0007", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusbdfwu.hex -D $tempnode"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0009", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_xup.hex -D $tempnode"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="000d", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_emb.hex -D $tempnode"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="000f", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_xlp.hex -D $tempnode"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0013", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_xp2.hex -D $tempnode"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="03fd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0015", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_xse.hex -D $tempnode"
</code>


[[http://svenand.blogdrive.com/archive/114.html]]

====== USB-to-JTAG cable =====

To connect to JTAG pin headers. It does not come with the kit. You may buy a 
**[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards-and-kits/HW-USB-II-G.htm|Xilinx Platform Cable USB II]]**
or a less expensive cable **[[http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=JTAG-USB|from Digilent]]**.



{{:vlsi:workbook:fpga:spartan3an:usb_to_jtag_cable_digilent.jpg?350}}



[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/data_sheets/ds593.pdf]]




====== Digilent programmign cable/Adept sofware ======

[[http://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/54382.htm]]

[[http://ashwith.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/setup-xilinx-ise-14-1-free-version-and-digilents-adept-utilities-in-fedora-17-64-bit/]]

====== Design examples from Xilinx ======

[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/reference_designs.htm]]


\\
**Demo Design for the Starter Kit Board** \\

[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/reference_designs.htm#demo]]

[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/files/s3ask_demo.pdf]]

<code>
wget http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/files/s3ask_demo.pdf
</code>

Source code: ''s3ask_demo.zip'' (Xilinx login required for downloads)


\\
**Device DNA Reader** \\

[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/reference_designs.htm#dna_reader]]

[[http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/files/s3ask_dna_reader.pdf]]

<code>
wget http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3astarter/files/s3ask_dna_reader.pdf
</code>

Source code: ''s3ask_dna_reader.zip'' (Xilinx login required for downloads)

<code>
mkdir sources
unzip -d sources/  s3ask_dna_reader.zip
</code>

====== Web tutorials and other resources ======

Lot of examples can be found at [[http://www.fpga4fun.com/]]



\\
**Turning on/off a simple LED with a D-FlipFlop**

   * [[http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eLOLBYxLXcE]]


\\
**Basic LED blinking using binary counters**

   * [[http://www.fpga4fun.com/ISEQuickStart.html]]
   * [[http://therobotfix.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/getting-started-with-spartan-3e-fpga-and-verilog/]]
   * [[http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qx7Xef2LGE]]
   * [[http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qXlM8p0u-as]]

\\
A nice collection of FPGA projects by Mike Field at //hamsterworks.co.nz//,
[[http://hamsterworks.co.nz/mediawiki/index.php/FPGA_Projects]]

====== ======
\\
----

Last update: [[pacher@NOSPAMto.infn.it]] - Sep 21, 2013
~~NOTOC~~