1. Implementing VHDL Modules onto Atlys Demo Board
Jeremy Sandoval
University of Washington
April 23, 2013

2. Overview Requirements Creating Project in ISE Project Navigator
Synthesizing
Implementing
Generating Programming File
Uploading via Digilent Adept

3. Requirements Software: Hardware: Xilinx ISE Project Navigator
Digilent Adept
Pre-written VHDL code .vhd
General Atlys UCF (user constraint file)
Hardware:
Atlys board
Micro USB cable
Universal power supply

4. Step 1: Creating a New Project
File>New Project
Create a Project Name and Select Top Level Source as “HDL”

5. Step 2: Check Project Settings
Change Project Settings to match configuration below
Then Click ‘Next’ and ‘Finish’ after confirming that the Project Settings are accurate

6. Step 3: Adding Source Files
Click the Add Source button or Project>Add Source
Select .vhd files and click ‘Open’

7. Step 4: Add User Constraint File
Project>Add New Source
Browse to General UCF for Atlys board
Click ‘Open’

8. Step 5: Edit User Constraint File
Doubleclick AtlysGeneral.ucf to open in Project Navigator
Comment out unused pins with a ‘#’ before the line
Change the Net names to match project I/O

9. Step 6: Synthesize Select top level .vhd file in the Hierarchy window
Double click “Synthesize” in the Processes pane
Green Check means successfully synthesized
If Red ‘X’, check the error report

10. Step 7: Implement Next, doubleclick “Implement Design”
Wait for process to finish
Green check means no error

11. “LOCWARN ERROR”
Run into error when the implementation process is generating pin mapping.

12. Step 8: Generate Programming File
Doubleclick “Generate Programming File” in the process pane
Generates the .bit file to be uploaded to the FPGA

13. Step 9: Connect Atlys Board
Once the .bit file has been generated, connect the Atlys board to the PC via the USB cable
Connect power to board
Turn on the board

14. Step 10: Open Digilent Adept
Open Adept and wait for Atlys board to be recognized

15. Step 11a: Load .bit onto Board
Click on “Browse…” on the Config tab
Open .bit file
Click “Program”

16. Step 11b: Load .bit into SPI Flash
Can also upload .bit to the onboard flash memory
Program isn’t erased after turning off the Atlys board
Navigate to “Flash” tab
Click “Browse” and open .bit file
Click “Program”

17. Step 12: Test on FPGA
Use the onboard I/O to test your design for proper functionality

18. Issues/Questions?