Designing for Performance for CPLDs

Course Description

Designing for Performance for CPLDs is an intermediate-level course that provides a comprehensive overview of the CPLD software flow. By applying the techniques presented in this course, you will know how to enhance design performance and make the best possible use of Xilinx CPLD architectures.

This course uses the ISE® 9.1 software, including the Constraints Editor and Timing Analyzer. Other topics include understanding the CPLD logic engine, estimating power, and fitting difficult designs.

Training Duration

1 day

Who Should Attend?

Digital designers interested in CPLD design optimization who have working knowledge of basic HDL (VHDL or Verilog) and who have some experience designing with Xilinx CPLDs. Alternatively, those who have recently attended Fundamentals of CPLD Design.

Prerequisites

• Basic HDL knowledge (VHDL or Verilog)
• Digital design knowledge and Xilinx CPLD experience
• Fundamentals of CPLD Design course or equivalent knowledge of CPLD architecture; Xilinx implementation software flow and options; global constraints, the Constraints Editor or PACE; and reading fitting and timing reports
• Some experience with the software tool flow and global timing constraints

Software Tools

• Xilinx ISE 9.1i

Skills Gained

After completing this comprehensive training, you will know how to:

• Apply techniques to fit more logic into a device
• Describe the CoolRunner™-II CPLD timing model and how it can be used to analyze design performance
• Describe the advanced capabilities of the CoolRunner-II CPLD architecture
• Estimate the power consumption of a CPLD design

Course Outline

• Course Agenda
• Review of Fundamentals of CPLD Design
• XST for CPLDs
• Advanced Fitting
• Handling No-Fit Situations
• Lab 1: Fitting
• CPLD Timing
• Lab 2: CPLD Timing
• CPLD Logic Engine
• Coding Techniques
• CPLD Best Design Practices
• Power Estimation

Lab Descriptions

• Lab 1 - Fitting: Apply the knowledge and techniques learned in the previous modules to fit designs into smaller devices.
• Lab 2 - CPLD Timing: Analyze the timing of a design and create testbenches that can be simulated to verify the behavior of the design.

Customer Reviews 

• This course was extremely helpful. It was given at exactly the level I was looking for. Thanks.
  
  
  
• I've taken maybe 7 other Xilinx education courses and this one was the best.
  
  
  
• It was a great experience. I love your training facility in San Jose. Given the chance, I will gladly return for more training.