DSP Design Using System Generator

Course Description

This course allows you to explore the System Generator tool and to gain the expertise you need to develop advanced, low-cost Digital Signal Processing designs. This intermediate course in implementing DSP functions focuses on learning how to use System Generator for DSP, design implementation tools, and hardware co-simulation verification. Through hands-on exercises, you will implement a design from algorithm concept to hardware verification by using Xilinx FPGA capabilities.

Special Note

Release Date

March 2011

Training Duration

2 days

Who Should Attend?

System engineers, system designers, logic designers, and experienced hardware engineers interested in DSP design training who are implementing DSP algorithms using the MathWorks MATLAB® and Simulink® software and want to use Xilinx System Generator for DSP design

Prerequisites

• Experience with the MATLAB and Simulink software
• Basic understanding of sampling theory

Software Tools

• Xilinx ISE Design Suite: System Edition 13.1
• MATLAB with Simulink software R2010b

Hardware

• Architecture: Spartan®-6 and Virtex®-6 FPGAs*
• Demo board: Spartan-6 FPGA SP605 or Virtex-6 FPGA ML605 board*

* This course focuses on the Spartan-6 and Virtex-6 architectures. Check with your local Authorized Training Provider for the specifics of the in-class lab board or other customizations.

Skills Gained

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

• Describe the System Generator design flow for implementing DSP functions
• Identify Xilinx FPGA capabilities and implement a design from algorithm concept to hardware simulation
• List various low-level and high-level functional blocks available in System Generator
• Identify the high-level blocks available for FIR and FFT designs
• Design a multiple-clock-based System Generator system
• Embed two System Generator designs into a larger design
• Use a custom-designed FPGA PCB as a hardware co-simulation target

Course Outline

Day 1

• Introduction to System Generator
• Simulink Software Basics
• Lab 1: Using the Simulink Software
• Basic Xilinx Design Capture
• Lab 2: Getting Started with Xilinx System Generator
• Signal Routing
• Lab 3: Signal Routing
• Implementing System Control
• Lab 4: Implementing System Control

Day 2

• Multi-Rate Systems
• Lab 5: Designing a MAC-based FIR
• Filter Design
• Lab 6: Designing a FIR Filter Using the FIR Compiler Block
• System Generator, Project Navigator, and Platform Studio Integration
• Lab 7: System Generator and Project Navigator Integration
• Spartan-6 and Virtex-6 FPGA DSP Platforms
• Lab 8: Using System Generator to Develop Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA DSP Applications

Lab Descriptions

• Lab 1: Using Simulink – Learn how to use Simulink toolbox blocks and design a system. Understand the effect sampling rate.
• Lab 2: Getting Started with Xilinx System Generator – Illustrates a DSP48-based design. Perform hardware co-simulation verification targeting a Xilinx evaluation board.
• Lab 3: Signal Routing – Design padding and unpadding logic by using signal routing blocks.
• Lab 4: Implementing System Control – Design an address generator circuit by using blocks and Mcode.
  
• Lab 5: Designing a MAC-based FIR – Using a bottom-up approach, design a MAC-based bandpass FIR filter and verify through hardware co-simulation by using a Xilinx evaluation board.
  
• Lab 6: Designing a FIR Filter Using the FIR Compiler Block or DAFIR Block – Design a bandpass FIR filter by using the FIR Compiler block to demonstrate increased productivity. Verify the design through hardware co-simulation by using a Xilinx evaluation board.
• Lab 7: System Generator and Project Navigator Integration – Learn how to embed two System Generator designs into a larger design and how VHDL created by System Generator can be incorporated into the simulation model of the overall system.
• Lab 8: Using System Generator to Develop Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA DSP Applications – Using System Generator to Develop Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA DSP Applications – Design a single-carrier Digital Up Converter (DUC) and Digital Down Converter (DDC) to meet WCDMA UTMS 3GPP specifications.

Customer Reviews 

• Before taking this course I had no real knowledge or experience in digital design. I can write Matlab code and things like that to implement DSP algorithms, but I've never actually done anything on hardware. After taking this class I feel like I have knowledge that I can build on as I start learning how to use FPGA and other digital devices. This was a really worthwhile course (and a worthwhile product) for someone like me.
  
  
  
• This instructor has a high level of interest and care in the student learning the material.
  
  
  
• Overall every thing was exellent.