Post by thread:[EE] PIC architecture and design

http://www.opencores.org/browse.cgi/by_category I am interested in getting back into microcontroller architecture and design. Many years ago I tried my hand at datapath design and ALUs and so on and did fairly well but didn't think to pursue the interest much further, but now know better. Can anybody make some recommendations on what to learn in order to grep (grok?) OpenCores more thoroughly? I am also interested in learning what sort of file formats there are out there for specifying controller design, i.e. how to convert my boolean algebraic statements into actual circuits perhaps in an XML format for later processing into silicon form. My goal is to design a basic MEA (microelectrode array) which typically involves an onboard microcontroller with either inductive coupling to interface with the outside world or (more recently) infrared interfaces. Any thoughts on manufacturing the actual 'electrode' part would also be most appreciated. Thank you, - Bryan http://heybryan.org/

On Thursday 22 November 2007 02:36:38 Bryan Bishop wrote: > I am interested in getting back into microcontroller architecture and > design. Many years ago I tried my hand at datapath design and ALUs and > so on and did fairly well but didn't think to pursue the interest much > further, but now know better. Can anybody make some recommendations on > what to learn in order to grep (grok?) OpenCores more thoroughly? Well, you should start with an understanding of a HDL, either Verilog or VHDL. Personally, I prefer Verilog. Then, download a couple of easy projects and see how thing's are done. Also, arming yourself with an FPGA development board would be useful for actually testing your designs. As for synthesis tools, all the FPGA vendors have free versions of their tools, which are good enough for most work. > I am also interested in learning what sort of file formats there are out > there for specifying controller design, i.e. how to convert my boolean > algebraic statements into actual circuits perhaps in an XML format for > later processing into silicon form. The most common method for design entry is either HDL, or schematic. However, it's preferable to use a HDL, as it's much easier to maintain and modify. Cheers. -- with metta, Shawn Tan Aeste Works (M) Sdn Bhd - Engineering Elegance http://www.aeste.net

On Thursday 22 November 2007 04:42, Shawn Tan wrote: > Well, you should start with an understanding of a HDL, either Verilog > or VHDL. VHDL www.doulos.com/knowhow/vhdl_designers_guide/ members.optushome.com.au/jekent/FPGA.htm http://www.vhdl.org/comp.lang.vhdl/ http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~ese201/vhdl/vhdl_primer.html (heh) http://www.foresight.org/conference/MNT7/Abstracts/Hall/index.html Verilog http://www.asic-world.com/verilog/veritut.html http://www.faqs.org/faqs/verilog-faq/ www.doulos.com/knowhow/verilog_designers_guide/ http://www.project-veripage.com/ http://veditor.sf.net/ www.cag.csail.mit.edu/scale/software/vcore/index.html www.mindspring.com/~tcoonan/risc8doc.html http://www.fpgacpu.org/usenet/synth_cpu.html http://www.verilog.net/free.html That should get me started. - Bryan