What you'll learn
- Digital design basics, including logic gates, binary/hexadecimal numbers, registers, shift registers, counters, timing diagrams, propagation/setup/hold timing
- VHDL language basics, including VHDL file formats/libraries, coding logic equations, conditional statements, arrays, timing constraints
- Coding, including case statements, state machines, coding from timing diagrams, while-loops, standard/unsigned types, VHDL components (modules), simulation
- Practical examples: memories (inferred/dual port), FIFOs, memory-mapped buses, serial interfaces (RS232, UARTs, I2C, SPI), DSP, PLLs, Manchester/8B10B encoding
Requirements
- A rudimentary understanding of algebra is helpful, but not necessary.
Description
VHDL is a powerful programming language for developing FPGAs, but is useless without an in-depth understanding of digital design. This course provides the student a comprehensive working knowledge of both of these in parallel. VHDL describes digital logic, and, as such, is an ideal vehicle for developing a deep understanding of the functional power available in modern FPGA devices.
Who this course is for:
- Entry level students interested in developing programs for FPGAs.
- Technicians and engineers who would like to learn VHDL (an FPGA programming language).
Instructor
Blaine Readler graduated from Penn State with a degree in electrical engineering, and has been developing complex digital systems for over thirty-five years. He has worked with major corporations such as IBM, General Electric, and Northrup-Grumman, as well as small start-ups. He has been designing with FPGAs since their introduction thirty years ago. He has written two FPGA-related reference books, which have sold over ten thousand copies, and has taught introductory programming classes at community colleges. He holds a number of patents, including for the FakeTV home security product.