User guide

System Generator for DSP User Guide www.xilinx.com 307
UG640 (v 12.2) July 23, 2010
Supporting New Boards through JTAG Hardware Co-Simulation
Supporting New Boards through JTAG Hardware Co-Simulation
System Generator provides a generic interface that uses JTAG and a Xilinx programming
cable (e.g., Parallel Cable IV or Platform Cable USB) to communicate with FPGA
hardware. This takes advantage of the ability of JTAG to extend System Generator's
hardware in the simulation loop capability to numerous other FPGA boards.
Hardware Requirements
An FPGA board can support the JTAG hardware co-simulation interface, provided it
includes the following hardware components:
• A Xilinx FPGA part that is available in System Generator as a supported device (i.e., a
device that can be chosen in the Part field of the System Generator block dialog box);
• An on-board oscillator that supplies the FPGA with a free-running clock source;
• A JTAG header that provides access to the FPGA.
Supporting New Boards
Although the JTAG hardware co-simulation interface is generic, an FPGA board must
provide its own board support package before it can be supported in System Generator. A
board support package is comprised of four files that provide information about the board,
or board. A number of FPGA boards already have board support packages available. You
may have an FPGA board that does not have a hardware co-simulation board support
package. In this case, you can create your own, assuming your board meets the specified
Hardware Requirements. Creating a new board support package for a board is a
straightforward process. System Generator provides a utility, called the System Generator
Board Description Builder (SBDBuilder), that allows you to create new board support
packages in a graphical environment. It is also possible to define board support packages
manually by editing a series of template files that are included in the System Generator
software tree.
SBDBuilder can be launched by using the command
xlSBDBuilder in the MATLAB
console. Alternatively, SBDBuilder can also be launched from the System Generator Token
by double-clicking on the System Generator token; under Compilation select Hardware
Co-Simulation > New Compilation Target ...