Digilent 410-178P-KIT - Manual (Page 3)

Atlys Reference Manual
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Power Good
LED
Adept USB
Port
Mode Jumper (JP11)
Power
Jack
Power
Switch
HID Host
Port
Both Digilent and Xilinx freely distribute software that can be used to program the FPGA and the SPI
ROM. Programming files are stored within the FPGA in SRAM-based memory cells. This data defines
the FPGA’s logic functions and circuit connections, and it remains valid until it is erased by removing
power or asserting the PROG_B input, or until it is overwritten by
a new configuration file.
FPGA configuration files transferred via the JTAG port use the
.bin or .svf file types, files transferred from a USB stick use the .bit
file type, and SPI programming files use the .bit, .bin, or .mcs file
types.
Xilinx’s ISE WebPack and EDK software can create .bit,
.svf, .bin, or .mcs files from VHDL, Verilog, or schematic-based
source files (EDK is used for MicroBlaze™ embedded processor-
based designs). Digilent's Adept software and Xilinx's iMPACT
software can be used to program the FPGA or ROM using the
Adept USB port.
During FPGA programming, a .bit or .svf file is transferred from
the PC directly to the FPGA using the USB-JTAG port. When
programming the ROM, a .bit, .bin, or .mcs file is transferred to the
ROM in a two-step process. First, the FPGA is programmed with a
circuit that can program the SPI ROM, and then data is
transferred to the ROM via the FPGA circuit (this complexity is
hidden and
a simple “program ROM” interface is shown). After the
ROM has been programmed, it can automatically configure the
FPGA at a subsequent power-on or reset event if the JP11 jumper
is unloaded. A programming file stored in the SPI ROM will remain
until it is overwritten, regardless of power-cycle events.
The FPGA can be programmed from a memory stick attached to
the USB-HID port if the stick contains a single .bit configuration
file in the root directory, JP11 is loaded, and board power is
cycled. The FPGA will automatically reject any .bit files that are not built for the proper FPGA.
Adept System
Adept has a simplified programming interface and many additional features as described in the
following sections.
Adept and iMPACT USB Port
The Adept port is compatible with Xilinx's iMPACT programming software if the Digilent Plug-In for
Xilinx Tools is installed on the host PC (download it free from the Digilent website
’s software section).
The plug-in automatically translates iMPACT-generated JTAG commands into formats compatible
with the Digilent USB port, providing a seamless programming experience without leaving the Xilinx
tool environment. Once the plug-in is installed, the "third party" programming option can be selected
from the iMPACT tools menu, and iMPACT will work as if a Xilinx programming cable were being
used. All Xilinx tools (iMPACT, ChipScope, EDK, etc.) can work with the plug-in, and they can be
used in conjunction with Adept tools (like the power supply monitor).