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Yeah, sadly for us we have no control at all over what computersrickman wrote:
If you build the Parllel Cable III into your product, what will you
connect it to? I don't think they have built a PC with a parallel port
in a number of years and my understanding is that the drivers for USB
parallel ports don't work properly with bit banging software like this.
Am I mistaken? Is this a workable solution?
I have no idea about the USB-parport, but you CAN get computers with real
parallel ports, just not on laptops. I use the parallel port for lots
of interconnect projects, and the Intel D525 chipset still has parport
support, if the motherboard maker chooses to bring it out. For this
reason, we use a lot of Intel D525 (Atom) motherboards in projects.
Jon
That is _really_ close to what we are looking for, just the headers asI think you're in luck...
I was browsing around earlier today trying to figure out if I could do realtime video-rate JPEG encoding on a DSP instead of having to code it up in verilog, and ran across this...
http://www.nuhorizons.com/development/board.asp?product=Lattice-ICE40...
For $20, you get:
- 4 capacitive buttons. I guess you still have to 'debounce' capacitive buttons...
- 63 i/o on breadboard-friendly 0.1" headers. You'll have to supply the headers.
- can power off the USB
- has ~1K logic cells (lut+flip-flop)
- comes with USB cable & software can be downloaded.
Assuming you can solder some headers onto the board, switches can be replaced by jumpers, and 63 i/o is actually really generous at this sort of level. Most of the entry-level boards are seriously miserly in comparison.
On the downside, you'd probably not get much of a bulk discount - I'm guessing they're already cut to the bone at this price...
Just FYI - not a recommendation since I've never used Lattice before, but thought you'd be interested.
Simon
Humm, it's sounding like Lattice is going to be the way to go unless I
can get support from Altera or Xilinx (something I'll pursue if this
gets out of the "idea" stage).
Has anyone worked with Lattice Diamond? How does it compare to the
software from Xilinx and Altera? I've been burned by some "bad" FPGA
software in the past (not horrible, just too steep of a learning curve
for the classroom) and would _really_ like the ability to do schematic
capture in addition to Verilog...
Thanks again to everyone for their responses, this has been really
useful!
Mark
Hello,
Mark Brehob wrote:
Humm, it's sounding like Lattice is going to be the way to go unless I
can get support from Altera or Xilinx (something I'll pursue if this
gets out of the "idea" stage).
Has anyone worked with Lattice Diamond? How does it compare to the
software from Xilinx and Altera? I've been burned by some "bad" FPGA
software in the past (not horrible, just too steep of a learning curve
for the classroom) and would _really_ like the ability to do schematic
capture in addition to Verilog...
Thanks again to everyone for their responses, this has been really
useful!
Mark
Hello,
Tried to use Lattice software for several years now. It never worked. At
first it did not work, because my windows installation was too old, and
they did not have a linux install. I gave it a try at my brother's
laptop, which was a bit more recent software-wise. Unfortunately their
license is locked to the boxes' MAC address, so I had to wait for a
year, to be able to apply for a new one. On that box it did not work
either... unsure why.
Recent versions of lattice diamond are available for linux, so I gave it
a try again. Synplify(the synthesis tool) failed with a SIGILL. It turns
out it requires a SSE2 box.
Synplify is a synthesis tool, that is included in diamond. For some
parts it is the only practical choice... It is produced by 'synopsys',
and they do not mention any instruction set requirements on their
website...
http://www.synopsys.com/Tools/Implementation/FPGAImplementation/FPGASynthesis/Pages/FPGAPlatformSupport.aspx#requirements
The other synthesis tools supported are:
Precision: 3rd party (`mentor graphics`), not included, MachXO2 not
supported.
Lattice LSE: Lattice Synthesis Engine, included. Available only with
MachXO, MachXO2, and Platform Manager.
I did not try those, as they don't support LatticeXP parts... they
_probably_ work.
All in all, things have improved. It might work on your common, everyday
box.. if it isn't too old.
regards,
JK
free software can run on 64-bit operating systems. There are ways toYeah, sadly for us we have no control at all over what computers
people use, so we can't rely on parallel ports...
OK, one other thing is that due to export restrictions, no vendor's
I've been burnt by this. Xilinx use a proper plug and play driver for their parallel cable IV and will therefore work with a very cheap PCI parallel port card. ALTERA don't, their driver insists on the parallel port being where IBM put it in IO space 30 odd years ago.rickman wrote:
If you build the Parllel Cable III into your product, what will you
connect it to? I don't think they have built a PC with a parallel port
in a number of years and my understanding is that the drivers for USB
parallel ports don't work properly with bit banging software like this.
Am I mistaken? Is this a workable solution?
I have no idea about the USB-parport, but you CAN get computers with real
parallel ports, just not on laptops. I use the parallel port for lots
of interconnect projects, and the Intel D525 chipset still has parport
support, if the motherboard maker chooses to bring it out. For this
reason, we use a lot of Intel D525 (Atom) motherboards in projects.
Jon
Go through the binary code of the driver and replace the portI've been burnt by this. Xilinx use a proper plug and play
driver for their parallel cable IV and will therefore work
with a very cheap PCI parallel port card. ALTERA don't,
their driver insists on the parallel port being where IBM
put it in IO space 30 odd years ago.