Boolean Board Digital Logic Course#
Credits#
The slides are based on the page Boolean Board Digital Logic Course
Goals#
Introduction and overview
Course goals#
Understand digital circuits and design methods
Apply your knowledge on a modern integrated design environment: Xilinx Vivado
The Boolean Board#
Your playground for learning about digital digital design
Your launchpad for your final project
Exercise 1
Take about five minutes and explore what the board is capable of
Vivado#
Integrated design environment. Includes:
Design, e.g., connecting components together
Simulation
Synthesis, for creating hardware from HDL, similar to compiling a software
Logic analyzer
Instructions on the Realdigital website recommend you to install packages that we won’t need for working with the Boolean board. My recommendation is:
Download the installer package which is about 250 MB. Note that the installation requires you to create an account
Then choose the following:
Product: Vivado (not Vitis)
Edition: Vivado ML Standard
Customization:
Design Tools -> ✅ Vivado Design Suite
Devices -> Production devices -> 7 Series -> ✅ Spartan-7
Leave the rest deactivated if possible.
Design Projects#
The projects contain relevant theory, which are behind the 🟩 buttons. Skip over if you are already cognizant of these concepts.
You should do at least the Requirements. Challenges are optional.
You are encouraged to go off-script, try your ideas and present them.
Tips for success#
My recommendation:
Study regularly
Do pair programming
Hardware development#
Can be more daunting compared to software development
You can conveniently realize your hardware without manufacturing a custom chip thanks to the FPGAs.
Ask questions#
In-course Q&A, e.g., Moodleoverflow
Tool installation#
👉 Please install the latest version for the first lab from xilinx.com.
You can also run the software on our university’s cloud if you cannot install or need more computing resources.