How to Design a High-Speed Memory Interface

CONN-MIF

Course Description

This course teaches hardware designers who are new to high-speed memory I/O to design a memory interface in Xilinx FPGAs. It introduces designers to the basic concepts of high-speed memory I/O design, implementation, and debug using Xilinx 7 series FPGAs.

Additionally, students will learn about the tools available for high-speed memory interface design, debug, and implementation of high-speed memory interfaces.

The major memory types covered are DDR2 and DDR3. The following memory types are covered on demand: RLDRAMII, LPDDR, and QDRII+. Labs are available for DDR3 on the Kintex™-7 FPGA KC705 board.

Level: Connectivity 3
Course Duration: 2 days
Price: $1600 or 16 Xilinx Training Credits
Course Part Number: CONN-MIF-ILT 
Who Should Attend?: FPGA designers and logic designers
Registration: Register online in our secure store

Prerequisites

  • VHDL or Verilog experience or Designing with VHDL or Designing with Verilog course
  • Familiarity with logic design: state machines and synchronous design
  • Very helpful to have:
    • Basic knowledge of FPGA architecture
    • Familiarity with Xilinx implementation tools
  • Nice to have:
    • Familiarity with I/O basics
    • Familiarity with high-speed I/O standards

Software Tools

  • Vivado System Edition 2015.1
  • Mentor Graphics Questa Advanced Simulator 10.3d
  • Mentor Graphics HyperLynx SI 9.x

Hardware

  • Architecture: 7 series FPGAs*
  • Demo board: Kintex-7 FPGA KC705 board*

* This course focuses on the 7 series architecture. Contact us for the specifics of the in-class lab board or other customizations.

After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the necessary skills to:

  • Identify the FPGA resources required for memory interfaces
  • Describe different types of memories
  • Utilize the Xilinx tools to generate memory interface designs
  • Simulate memory interfaces with the Xilinx ISim simulator
  • Implement memory interfaces
  • Identify the board design options for the realization of memory interfaces
  • Test and debug your memory interface design

Course Outline

Day 1

  • Introduction
  • 7 Series FPGAs Overview
  • Memory Devices
  • 7 Series FPGAs Memory Interface Resources
  • Memory Controller Details and Signals
  • MIG Design Generation
  • Lab 1: MIG Core Generation

Day 2

  • Memory Design Simulation
  • Lab 2: MIG Design Simulation
  • Memory Design Implementation
  • Lab 3: MIG Design Implementation
  • Memory Interface Test and Debugging
  • Lab 4: MIG Design Debugging
  • Memory Interface Board-Level Design

Lab Descriptions

  • Lab 1: MIG Core Generation – Create a DDR3 memory controller using the Memory Interface Generator (MIG) CORE Generator™ interface. Customize the soft core memory controller for the board.
  • Lab 2: MIG Design Simulation – Simulate the memory controller created in Lab 1 using using the Vivado simulator.
  • Lab 3: MIG Design Implementation – Implement the memory controller created in the previous labs. Modify constraints, synthesize, implement, create the bitstream, program the FPGA, and check the functionality.
  • Lab 4: MIG Design Debugging – Debug the memory interface design utilizing the ChipScope Pro™ tool.

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Alternative Dates and Locations

Faster Technology is able to deliver both private classes at client sites and also public classes at alternate locations and dates.  If there are no currently scheduled classes listed above or if none of the classes are convenient, please tell us what dates and locations will meet your needs.  No obligation necessary.