FPGA Softcore Processors and IP Acquisition from Coursera

This course will introduce you to all aspects of development of Soft Processors and Intellectual Property (IP) in FPGA design. You will learn the extent of Soft Processor types and capabilities, how to make your own Soft Processor in and FPGA, including how to design the hardware and the software for a Soft Processor. You will learn how to add IP blocks and custom instructions to your Soft Processor. After the Soft Processor is made, you learn how to verify the design using simulation and an internal logic analyzer. Once complete you will know how to create and use Soft Processors and IP, a very useful skill.

This course consists of 4 modules, approximately 1 per week for 4 weeks. Each module will include an hour or two of video lectures, reading assignments, discussion prompts, and an end of module assessment.

What's inside

Syllabus

Softcore Processor Development Flow

This module introduces the concept of a soft processor in general, and of hardware design for the soft processor in particular. It presents an overview of soft processors, describing all the different kinds that are available from Xilinx, Altera, Microsemi, and Lattice and then goes into depth about the Nios II soft processor from Altera. The benefits of using soft processors to prevent obsolescence and provide flexibility are explained. The content guides you through a hardware design of the Nios II processor using Qsys, the Altera system design tool. Lastly, design of a custom instruction in the Nios II is presented, showing the versatility of the soft processor in an FPGA.

Writing Software for Softcore Processors

This module delves further into the development of soft processors, It describes the soft processor development flow in more detail, including the tools needed to develop software for the soft processor. It then introduces the Eclipse-based IDE for Nios II software development, and then shows how the output of the Qsys design is used to establish a Board Support Package (BSP) for the processor, which is necessary because the processor hardware design can be changed and the BSP software library must support any changes. Use of the BSP editor to configure the processor by programming control registers is demonstrated. Finally, the use of the custom instruction developed in Module 1 is presented, including the use of software macros to complete the implementation of the custom instruction.

IP Acquisition and Integration

Modern FPGA design is no longer centered on HDL module design as it is on acquisition and use of IP Cores. In this Module we will introduce IP cores including offerings from all the major vendors, Intel Altera, Xilinx, Microchip Microsemi, and Lattice. You will learn how to find, acquire, and use these cores.

Introducing ModelSim and Simulation for Verification

As we work on more complex FPGA designs, the challenges to create an error-free design mount exponentially. Having a good grasp of the tools needed to verify correctness of design has become more and more important. After introducing simulation in previous sessions, in this module we will examine simulation with ModelSim in more depth by working through some examples. This will show the utility of simulation for verification and debugging. This module will also describe in some detail how the simulator works and how it achieves concurrency through the use of delta delays. As a final step in the debugging process, the internal logic analyzer SignalTap II is introduced.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in computer engineering and design, which are in high demand in industry

Taught by Timothy Scherr, an Altera distinguished engineer with over 30 years of training experience

Suitable for students with some background knowledge in FPGA design

Reviews summary

Fpga softcore processors with nios ii

Learners say this course provides a solid foundation for understanding FPGA Softcore Processors. They especially value the practical demonstrations and integration of pre-existing IP-cores. While some students mention difficulty with outdated simulation tools and lack of hands-on exercises, the overall consensus is that this course is well-prepared and engaging.

Learn to integrate pre-built NIOS II.

"This course provides new concept about NIOS II 32-bit RISC Architecture and How HDL Simulation work."

"The core concepts (I have taken from this course) are gemstone and will be guiding star for my future "Embedded system Designing endeavor"."

Hands-on learning!

"The course is structured properly as practical demo has been given with theoretical concepts."

"Very interesting for demonstration purposes."

"There is much to be learned by working on your own afterwards with the notes taken."

Limited opportunities for practice.

"No hands on exercises, we "learn" how to make test benches without practising..."

"Coding examples need to include more about software and building something that actually works."

Beware of old software.

"A lot of just slide reading and listing, last week of the course is cool because you understand a bit better the simulation"

"The examples do not compile easily in quartus 20.1."

"The simulation tools used are old, and some of examples that are walked through on the videos don't run on the simulation tools or use newer versions that are not available."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in FPGA Softcore Processors and IP Acquisition with these activities:

Review Verilog Basics

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Reviewing basic Verilog concepts will help you understand the hardware design for the soft processor in module 1.

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Review Verilog syntax and semantics
Practice writing simple Verilog modules

Review Zynq Architecture and Embedded Design Concepts

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Review the key concepts to build your foundation for this course

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Follow the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC Overview self-paced course
Review the Embedded Design Concepts in Xilinx Zynq-7000 SoCs

Brush Up on C Programming

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Refresh your prior programming experience to make the most of this course

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Review basic C syntax and data structures
Practice writing simple C programs

Eight other activities

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Show all 11 activities

Solve C Programming Problems on LeetCode

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Reinforce your understanding of C programming by solving challenging problems

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Choose problems tagged with 'C'
Attempt to solve the problems without looking at the solution
Review solutions when needed

Build Your FPGA Design Toolkit

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Gather essential tools and resources to enhance your learning journey

Browse courses on FPGA Design

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Identify and collect recommended tools such as simulation software and design libraries
Organize your tools and resources for easy access and use
Share your toolkit with other FPGA enthusiasts

Connect with Experienced FPGA Professionals

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Seek guidance and insights from experienced professionals in the field

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Attend industry events and meetups to network with professionals
Join online communities and engage in discussions to connect with experts
Reach out to potential mentors directly for guidance and advice

FPGA Design Exercises

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Completing FPGA design exercises will help you understand the hardware design process for soft processors.

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Design a simple FPGA circuit using a hardware description language
Simulate and test the circuit using a design tool

Attend a Workshop on FPGA Design

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Gain hands-on experience and learn from experts in FPGA design

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Find a relevant workshop offered by Altera, Xilinx, or other providers
Register and attend the workshop
Participate actively in the hands-on exercises
Network with other participants and industry professionals

Nios II Processor Design Tutorial

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Creating a tutorial on Nios II processor design will help you solidify your understanding of the processor hardware and software development flow.

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Write a step-by-step guide on how to design a Nios II processor using Qsys
Include examples and diagrams to illustrate the process

Design and Implement a Simple Soft Processor in VHDL

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Put your learning into practice by creating a custom soft processor from scratch

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Design the architecture of your soft processor
Write VHDL code to implement the processor
Simulate your processor to verify its functionality
Synthesize and implement your processor on an FPGA

Volunteer as a Mentor for New FPGA Designers

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Deepen your understanding by mentoring others and sharing your knowledge

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Find opportunities to mentor through online forums or local organizations
Provide guidance and support to aspiring FPGA designers
Reflect on your own learning and reinforce your understanding

Career center

Learners who complete FPGA Softcore Processors and IP Acquisition will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

FPGA Engineer

An FPGA Engineer designs and develops field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and related systems. FPGAs are chips that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. This course can help you become an FPGA Engineer by teaching you the basics of FPGA design. You will learn about the different types of FPGAs, how to program them, and how to use them to build complex systems. With this knowledge, you could be responsible for the complete FPGA development flow and contribute to the design of embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for FPGA Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer designs and develops embedded systems. Embedded systems are electronic systems that are designed to perform specific tasks within a larger system. This course can help you become an Embedded Systems Engineer by teaching you the basics of embedded system design. You will learn about the different types of embedded systems, how to program them, and how to use them to build complex systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer designs and develops hardware systems. Hardware systems are physical systems that perform specific tasks. This course can help you become a Hardware Engineer by teaching you the basics of hardware design. You will learn about the different types of hardware, how to design them, and how to use them to build complex systems.

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Algorithm Engineer

An Algorithm Engineer designs and develops algorithms. Algorithms are sets of instructions that tell computers how to perform specific tasks. This course can help you become an Algorithm Engineer by teaching you the basics of algorithm design. You will learn about the different types of algorithms, how to design them, and how to use them to solve complex problems.

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Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs and develops systems. Systems are collections of components that work together to perform specific tasks. This course can help you become a Systems Engineer by teaching you the basics of systems engineering. You will learn about the different types of systems, how to design them, and how to use them to build complex systems.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs and develops software. Software is a set of instructions that tell computers how to perform specific tasks. This course can help you become a Software Engineer by teaching you the basics of software design. You will learn about the different types of software, how to design it, and how to use it to build complex systems.

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Computer Architect

A Computer Architect designs and develops computer architectures. Computer architectures are the blueprints for computers. This course can help you become a Computer Architect by teaching you the basics of computer architecture. You will learn about the different types of computer architectures, how to design them, and how to use them to build complex computer systems.

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Computer Scientist

A Computer Scientist researches and develops new computer technologies. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Computer Scientist. It can help you build a foundation in computer science, which is the study of computers and computation. With this knowledge, you could study different technology domains and find what interests you most.

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Electrical Engineer

An Electrical Engineer designs and develops electrical systems. Electrical systems are systems that use electricity to perform specific tasks. This course can help you become an Electrical Engineer by teaching you the basics of electrical engineering. You will learn about the different types of electrical systems, how to design them, and how to use them to build complex systems.

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Mathematician

A Mathematician researches and develops new mathematical theories and methods. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Mathematician. It can help you build a foundation in mathematics, which is the study of numbers, shapes, and patterns. With this knowledge, you could research any of the many branches of mathematics like statistics, probability, or algebra.

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Physicist

A Physicist researches and develops new physical theories and methods. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Physicist. It can help you build a foundation in physics, which is the study of matter and energy. With this knowledge, you could research any of the many branches of physics like astrophysics, nuclear physics, or particle physics.

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Statistician

A Statistician researches and develops new statistical theories and methods. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Statistician. It can help you build a foundation in statistics, which is the study of data. With this knowledge, you could research any of the many branches of statistics like biostatistics, econometrics, or data science.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist researches and develops new ways to collect, analyze, and interpret data. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Data Scientist. It can help you build a foundation in data science, which is the study of data. With this knowledge, you could research any of the many branches of data science like machine learning, artificial intelligence, or big data.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and executes projects. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Project Manager. It can help you build a foundation in project management, which is the study of planning and executing projects. With this knowledge, you could manage projects in any industry.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst tests and evaluates software and hardware products. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Quality Assurance Analyst. It can help you build a foundation in quality assurance, which is the study of testing and evaluating products. With this knowledge, you could work with many types of products, from software to hardware.

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