Propeller + SDRAM ?, yes with a FPGA !

Ale

I think everyone read about my VGA+Mem controller in a CPLD that sort of works but the amount of logic is too limited for more than proof of concept. So, now I just finished routing a FPGA-geladen board with a SDRAM. I was wondering about how and what to put in the board so I ended up with a mixed set. The board is 100x80 mm, so I can get 4 units done for about 58 €uro. I do not know at this point if the board will work and/or perform as I expect but some other members can find it useful. If someone whans one bare (or two) boards (I only bought 2 FPGAs) just let me know, the price will be 14 €uro + shipping, I accept paypal too.

Components:

Up to 256Mbit SDRAM (x8 or x16).
Xilinx XC3S50 or XC3S200 Spartan 3 FPGA
1 or 2 Mbit Xilinx Platform Flash
Propeller (in DIP package)
2 Oscillators (3.3V)
32kbyte (or more) EEPROM
uSD connector
PS/2 Connector for mouse & keyboard (needs splitter for using both).
VGA connector (using the FPGA, up to 4096 colors).
1.2V, 2.5V, 3.3V and 5V linear regulators.
Led
JTAG port (2.5V) for programming of FPGA and Platform Flash.

The FPGA is connected using 12 propeller pins. All unused (for propeller or SDRAM or VGA) FPGA pins are brought to 0.1" connectors.

Here is an image of the routed board. Extensive decoupling with 0603 and 0805 caps has been implemented.

I'd like to squeeze a 7 segments display with buffer and one or two push-buttons but well, I think I'll leave it as it is.

Edit: There is a normal propplug connector, so no USB.

Any takers for comments, enhancements, or buying wishes ?

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Visit some of my articles at Propeller Wiki:
MATH on the propeller propeller.wikispaces.com/MATH
pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU

Post Edited (Ale) : 10/29/2009 3:39:45 PM GMT

Ale

reserved

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Visit some of my articles at Propeller Wiki:
MATH on the propeller propeller.wikispaces.com/MATH
pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU

Ale

reserved

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Visit some of my articles at Propeller Wiki:
MATH on the propeller propeller.wikispaces.com/MATH
pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU

Bill Henning

Nice looking board!

Ale said...
I think everyone read about my VGA+Mem controller in a CPLD that sort of works but the amount of logic is too limited for more than proof of concept. So, now I just finished routing a FPGA-geladen board with a SDRAM. I was wondering about how and what to put in the board so I ended up with a mixed set. The board is 100x80 mm, so I can get 4 units done for about 58 €uro. I do not know at this point if the board will work and/or perform as I expect but some other members can find it useful. If someone whans one bare (or two) boards (I only bought 2 FPGAs) just let me know, the price will be 14 €uro + shipping, I accept paypal too.

Components:

Up to 256Mbit SDRAM (x8 or x16).
Xilinx XC3S50 or XC3S200 Spartan 3 FPGA
1 or 2 Mbit Xilinx Platform Flash
Propeller (in DIP package)
2 Oscillators (3.3V)
32kbyte (or more) EEPROM
uSD connector
PS/2 Connector for mouse & keyboard (needs splitter for using both).
VGA connector (using the FPGA, up to 4096 colors).
1.2V, 2.5V, 3.3V and 5V linear regulators.
Led
JTAG port (2.5V) for programming of FPGA and Platform Flash.

The FPGA is connected using 12 propeller pins. All unused (for propeller or SDRAM or VGA) FPGA pins are brought to 0.1" connectors.

Here is an image of the routed board. Extensive decoupling with 0603 and 0805 caps has been implemented.

I'd like to squeeze a 7 segments display with buffer and one or two push-buttons but well, I think I'll leave it as it is.

Edit: There is a normal propplug connector, so no USB.

Any takers for comments, enhancements, or buying wishes ?

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www.mikronauts.com Please use mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com to contact me off-forum, my PM is almost totally full
Morpheusdual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory IO board kit $89.95, both kits $189.95
Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
Las - Large model assembler for the Propeller Largos - a feature full nano operating system for the Propeller

fullspeceng

I think it'd be sweet if Parallax released an IP core for the propeller to sell. Would make integration a lot easier for complex designs.

mctrivia

An ip core would be nice. I am trying to do something similar to this but am using the maxii 1270. I would like to switch to cyclone 3 but it would mean making the board bigger, or using a much more expensive pcb.

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24 bit LCD Breakout Board coming soon. $21.99 has backlight driver and touch sensitive decoder.

Ale

mctrivia:

Those CPLDs are too expensive. A small and with flash FPGA like the XC3S50AN costs 7 Euro (1 unit) and has 50,000 gates, it is a much better deal. Send me a PM and may be we can combine designs I have a couple more ideas that may interest you [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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Visit some of my articles at Propeller Wiki:
MATH on the propeller propeller.wikispaces.com/MATH
pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU

Cluso99

Nice Ale..

I would add a 10uF Tantalum 1206 under the prop accross the power pins, even if you do not fit.

I am using a new method for PS2 connectors. If you wire the 6 pins as 8 (2x4) pins 0.040" @ 0.1" you can fit...
* PS2 (and a cheap eBay cable will split to 2 PS2's as you have done)
* USB A (can use a USB keyboard supporting PS2 without converter)
* Pin Hdr 2x4 (use the 4 pin I/O for something else with 5V & Gnd avail)
all in the same footprint.

The downside is the serial pins are different if you use the USB connector (can be fixed in software), but at least the 5V & GND are in the same place.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

waltc

Ale,

Cool concept and board. It reminds me of another cpu-FPGA team up like this one that uses a Z80 and Spartan 2:

http://www.retroleum.co.uk/electronics-articles/v6z80p/

Worth taking a look at since he implemented a version of the Amiga's Copper chip for graphics co-processing in the Spartan.