Building Custom AXI Interface Peripherals for ZYNQ Devices from Udemy

As system complexities are growing day by day, the Zynq device alone is incapable of providing the same performance and the Pure RTL module or Programmable logic (PL) needs to be integrated along with the Zynq. As Zynq works with Advanced Extensible Peripheral (AXI), it becomes mandatory for FPGA engineers to gain a fundamental understanding of adding AXI Interface to the Verilog RTL. The AXI4 offers different variants to fit diverse application needs. Understanding of the simpler variants such as AXI Lite and AXI Stream Interface lays a foundation for building an understanding of the complex AXI4 variant such as AXI Full.

This course focuses on the usage of the Vivado IP Integrator and Vivado RTL integration for building the custom AXI interface for pure Verilog modules. There are four ways to achieve the addition of the AXI interface to the Verilog RTL viz. Using Vivado IP Packager, Vivado RTL Integration, Using System Generator, Using Vivado HLS. The course discusses two methodologies viz. Vivado IP Packager and Vivado RTL Integration in details with a simple example along with the demonstration of the integration of the created IP with the Zynq device. It will also discuss the creation of some basic device drivers, showing how software can be written to access the registers on the custom peripheral.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Building custom axi slave lite interface
Handling interrupts with custom axi slave lite interface
Creating custom axi stream interface with vivado template

Building custom axi stream interface with verilog rtl
Writing drivers for custom axi interface
Interfacing of custom axi interface with zynq devices

Building custom axi slave lite interface
Handling interrupts with custom axi slave lite interface
Creating custom axi stream interface with vivado template
Building custom axi stream interface with verilog rtl
Writing drivers for custom axi interface
Interfacing of custom axi interface with zynq devices

Syllabus

Section 0 : Course Framework

Interface Type

Course Framework

Building AXI Slave Lite Interface : Using Vivado Template without I/O ports

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on AXI4, which offers different variants to fit diverse application needs, making it highly relevant for FPGA engineers working with Zynq devices

Covers the usage of Vivado IP Integrator and Vivado RTL integration, which are essential tools for FPGA engineers working with Verilog modules

Discusses the creation of basic device drivers, showing how software can be written to access registers on custom peripherals, a practical skill for hardware-software integration

Requires an understanding of Verilog RTL, which may necessitate that learners without this background acquire it before taking this course

Explores AXI Lite and AXI Stream interfaces, which lays a foundation for understanding the complex AXI4 variant, which is useful for those seeking to deepen their knowledge

Examines the integration of custom IP with Zynq devices, which is a crucial skill for those working on embedded systems and hardware acceleration

Reviews summary

Axi interface design for zynq

According to learners, this course provides a solid and practical introduction to building custom AXI Lite and AXI Stream interfaces for Zynq devices using Vivado. Many students found the hands-on labs and demonstrations particularly helpful for understanding how to integrate Verilog RTL with the Zynq processing system and write basic drivers. While covering the core concepts well, some reviewers noted that the course could benefit from exploring more advanced topics or real-world optimizations, suggesting it serves as a strong foundational step rather than an exhaustive deep dive.

Assumes some background in Verilog/Zynq.

"Students should ideally have some prior experience with Verilog/VHDL and basic Vivado usage."

"While it starts with basics, familiarity with the Zynq platform helps immensely."

"It was easier for me having worked with Vivado IP Integrator before."

Focuses on AXI Lite and AXI Stream basics.

"The focus on AXI Lite and AXI Stream using both Vivado templates and custom RTL is very relevant."

"I appreciated the clear explanations of the different AXI4 variants covered."

"It covers the most common AXI interfaces you need when starting with Zynq peripherals."

Provides a strong basis in AXI interfaces.

"The course provided a very good foundation for understanding how to interface custom logic with the Zynq PL."

"It clarifies the essential concepts of AXI Lite and AXI Stream, which are fundamental for Zynq development."

"This course is a great starting point for anyone looking to integrate their Verilog modules via AXI."

Demonstrations and labs are very useful.

"The course covers the topics quite good and explains each step from A to Z. The labs are very useful for understanding how it works."

"The demonstration and hands-on examples were particularly valuable, providing a clear path to implement the concepts."

"I found the labs on integrating the created IP with the Zynq device and writing device drivers very practical."

Lacks coverage of advanced or complex topics.

"Could be more in-depth on topics like AXI Full or more complex real-world scenarios."

"While the foundation is good, I wish it explored more advanced integration techniques."

"I felt that some complex aspects were only briefly touched upon."

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 Building Custom AXI Interface Peripherals for ZYNQ Devices with these activities:

Review AXI Protocol Fundamentals

Show steps

Review the fundamentals of the AXI protocol to better understand the concepts covered in the course. This will help you grasp the nuances of AXI Lite and AXI Stream interfaces.

Show steps

Read about AXI protocol specifications.
Study the different AXI interface types.
Understand the AXI handshake process.

Brush Up on Verilog RTL Design

Show steps

Practice Verilog RTL design to prepare for creating custom AXI interface peripherals. This will help you translate high-level designs into synthesizable hardware.

Browse courses on Verilog

Show steps

Review basic Verilog syntax and constructs.
Implement simple combinational and sequential circuits.
Simulate and debug your Verilog code.

Implement a Simple AXI Lite Peripheral

Show steps

Start a project to implement a basic AXI Lite slave peripheral. This will provide hands-on experience with the concepts taught in the course.

Show steps

Define the functionality of the peripheral.
Design the AXI Lite interface logic.
Write the Verilog code for the peripheral.
Simulate and verify the design.
Integrate the peripheral into a Zynq system.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Follow Xilinx AXI Tutorial

Show steps

Follow a Xilinx tutorial on creating custom AXI peripherals. This will provide a step-by-step guide to the process.

Show steps

Find a relevant Xilinx tutorial.
Follow the tutorial instructions carefully.
Adapt the tutorial to your specific needs.

AXI System Architecture

Show steps

Review 'AXI System Architecture' to gain a deeper understanding of the AXI protocol. This will help you design more efficient and robust AXI peripherals.

View Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the chapters on AXI Lite and AXI Stream.
Study the examples of AXI peripheral designs.
Understand the AXI timing and signaling requirements.

Document Your AXI Peripheral Design

Show steps

Create documentation for your AXI peripheral design. This will help you solidify your understanding and make it easier to reuse the design in the future.

Show steps

Describe the functionality of the peripheral.
Explain the AXI interface signals and timing.
Provide a block diagram of the design.
Include simulation results and verification reports.

Contribute to an Open-Source FPGA Project

Show steps

Contribute to an open-source FPGA project that uses AXI interfaces. This will provide valuable experience working with real-world designs and collaborating with other engineers.

Show steps

Find an open-source FPGA project on GitHub.
Identify a task that you can contribute to.
Implement the task and submit a pull request.
Respond to feedback from the project maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Custom AXI Interface Peripherals for ZYNQ Devices will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

FPGA Engineer

An FPGA Engineer designs, develops, and tests systems using Field Programmable Gate Arrays. This role requires a deep understanding of hardware description languages like Verilog and the ability to integrate custom peripherals. This course helps build a foundation in this area. It focuses on the practical aspects of creating custom AXI interfaces, which is a crucial skill for any FPGA engineer working on Zynq devices. Learning how to use Vivado IP Integrator and RTL integration to create these interfaces and then connect them to a Zynq processor directly translates to the tasks an FPGA engineer completes. Additionally, the course's coverage of AXI Lite and AXI Stream interfaces, as well as creating device drivers, are highly relevant to this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for FPGA Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer develops and tests the software and hardware of embedded systems. This role often involves deep knowledge of hardware and software, such as the architecture of microprocessors and writing low level drivers for device interaction. This course helps build a foundation in developing custom hardware interface modules. The course covers topics such as creating custom AXI stream and AXI Lite interfaces in Verilog and then integrating that with the Zynq device. It also teaches how to create device drivers for the custom peripheral, which is important in writing the software for the embedded system. An Embedded Systems Engineer can directly apply their course learning in their daily work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Digital Design Engineer

A Digital Design Engineer is responsible for designing and implementing digital circuits, often using hardware description languages. This role often works with FPGAs to prototype and implement designs. This course is highly applicable to a Digital Design Engineer. The course focuses heavily on the use of Vivado tools, such as the IP Integrator, to build custom AXI interface peripherals for Zynq devices. This is directly relevant for anyone working with FPGAs. The learning on how to implement these interfaces using Verilog RTL and create device drivers provides relevant skills to anyone in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Design Engineer

Hardware Validation Engineer

A Hardware Validation Engineer is responsible for testing and validating hardware systems to ensure that they meet the required specifications and that they function correctly in their intended operating environments. In order to effectively perform this task, they may need to have an understanding of lower level hardware and software integration. This course provides helpful background for anyone in that role by demonstrating the creation of custom AXI interface peripherals, including integration with a Zynq processor. The course also teaches how to create device drivers and write software to access custom peripherals. The learning about AXI protocols, in particular AXI lite and AXI stream, may be helpful for a hardware validation engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Validation Engineer

Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and testing of electronic hardware systems. This role often involves working with FPGAs and integrating custom logic. This course may be helpful by providing practical experience in designing custom AXI interface peripherals, which is a valuable skill for any hardware engineer working with Zynq devices. The course focuses on creating different types of AXI interfaces, such as AXI Lite and AXI Stream, and goes into detail on integrating these interfaces with Verilog RTL and the Zynq device using Vivado tools. Understanding how to create device drivers and write software to access custom peripherals is also a beneficial component of the course for hardware engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Firmware Engineer

A Firmware Engineer develops low-level software that interacts directly with hardware. This role requires an understanding of hardware interfaces and how to write code to control them. This course may be helpful by demonstrating how to develop device drivers for custom peripherals using the AXI interface. The course covers the creation of AXI interfaces using Vivado IP Integrator and RTL integration, which is crucial for firmware engineers working with Zynq devices. Learning how to access registers on custom peripherals and manage interrupts will be helpful for a Firmware Engineer when interacting with hardware.

See salaries and explore the career path for Firmware Engineer

System Architect

A System Architect designs complex systems and determines the overall structure of the hardware and software components. This role requires a good understanding of both hardware and software in the context of a system in order to make informed decisions. This course may be helpful by providing practical insight into the creation of custom hardware interfaces. Learning on AXI integration and peripherals development, such as AXI stream and AXI lite, and the development of device drivers, will help system architects understand the underlying technologies and requirements of the hardware they design. This course may be useful for any System Architect working with Zynq devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for System Architect

Verification Engineer

A Verification Engineer ensures that hardware and software designs meet specifications and functional requirements. This role requires a strong understanding of both hardware and software interactions. This course may be helpful, as it goes into detail about the creation of custom AXI interfaces and how these interfaces interact with software device drivers. The practical experience of building and debugging AXI interfaces and the process of verifying their functionality are relevant to the work of a Verification Engineer. Observing how software interacts with hardware peripherals via driver software is a key aspect of this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Verification Engineer

Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer designs, develops, and tests robots and robotic systems. This role requires a multidisciplinary approach, including knowledge of both hardware and software. This course may be helpful since it provides exposure to using AXI interfaces and creating device drivers to interact with custom hardware peripherals. A Robotics Engineer may leverage this course, because many robotics systems use processing chips like the Zynq, and require low-level control of hardware through custom modules. The course's emphasis on both AXI Lite and AXI stream, and the use of Verilog RTL and Vivado tools, may be useful to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Test Engineer

A Test Engineer develops and implements test plans to ensure that electronic systems meet specifications. This role requires knowledge of both hardware and software testing methodologies and the ability to debug issues. This course may be useful because it provides practical experience in integrating custom hardware peripherals using AXI interfaces. The course teaches how to build and test these custom peripherals using Vivado tools. The experience of debugging and verifying proper hardware functionality is directly applicable to this role. In addition, the course includes the creation of device drivers for these peripherals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Engineer

Research Engineer

A Research Engineer works in a lab or research environment to develop and test new technologies. This role often requires a strong understanding of fundamental engineering concepts and the ability to design and implement experimental systems. This course may be helpful by providing practical training in the integration of custom hardware peripherals using AXI protocols. The course covers how to design and integrate both AXI Lite and AXI stream interfaces which are foundational for modern hardware design. A Research Engineer may find this course useful in their experimental system design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Engineer

Product Engineer

A Product Engineer applies engineering principles to the development and manufacturing of products. This individual needs a good understanding of the underlying technologies and engineering involved in the products they support. This course may be useful to a Product Engineer, since it provides a good background on the detailed process of creating custom AXI interfaces for FPGA on Zynq devices. The course covers how to create IP from RTL using Verilog and integrate this with the Zynq device. This may be valuable for anyone supporting products that use such technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Engineer

ASIC Designer

An Application Specific Integrated Circuit Designer develops integrated circuits for specific purposes. This role requires a deep understanding of hardware description languages. This course may be useful by providing practical experience in implementing hardware IP using Verilog. The course focuses on integrating custom AXI interfaces, which is an important skill for ASIC designers. Although an ASIC designer may not be directly working with Zynq, the skills in RTL design using Verilog, AXI protocol usage, and logic integration are relevant to this role. Exposure to how an integrated system is combined could be valuable to an ASIC Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for ASIC Designer

Design Automation Engineer

A Design Automation Engineer develops and maintains the tools and methodologies used in the design of electronic systems. This role requires a deep understanding of the hardware and software design process and the tooling required to implement it. This course may be helpful for a Design Automation Engineer, since the course covers many aspects of hardware design using Vivado tools. Understanding the design process of AXI interfaces for Zynq devices and the use of Vivado IP Integrator and RTL integration may help a design automation engineer better understand and maintain the processes they support.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Automation Engineer

Technical Consultant

A Technical Consultant provides technical expertise and guidance to clients and assists them in solving complex problems. This role often requires a broad understanding of various technologies. This course may be helpful for anyone serving as a consultant, if they advise on products and systems that involve hardware interfaces and protocols, such as AXI. The course goes into detail on the development of AXI interface peripherals and how they integrate with the Zynq processor. The course material on device drivers is also beneficial. This is useful for anyone who needs a high level understanding of such systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Consultant

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Custom AXI Interface Peripherals for ZYNQ Devices.

Disillusioned

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the AXI protocol and its various implementations. It covers the AXI4, AXI3, and AXI Lite interfaces in detail. It useful reference for understanding the underlying principles of AXI and designing custom AXI peripherals. This book adds more depth to the course by providing a more theoretical and in-depth explanation of the AXI protocol.

Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of...

Hardcover

Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of...

Kindle Edition

Building Custom AXI Interface Peripherals for ZYNQ Devices

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Axi interface design for zynq

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses