Re: [LUG] embedded processing

[James Ogden <zemned@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 2003-05-01 at 23:02, Andrew Rogers wrote:
> James Ogden wrote:
> 
> >Hi,
> >
> >I'm new to the DClug and was wondering if anyone on the list is doing
> >any interesting embedded Linux work?  Personally, I'm considering
> >developing an FPGA based development board for embedding the or1k
> >http://www.opencores.org processor and some peripherals.  As physical
> >hardware is a little difficult to work with from afar (unlike the rather
> >wonderful or1k simulator), I would be interested to hear from anyone in
> >the vicinity who wants to / is doing similar things so that we can
> >possibly get together.
> >
> >James.
> >
> 
> I've thought quite a lot about an embedded Linux project but haven't 
> really found any time to actually design anything.
> 
> I've thought about an embedded Linux project based on a Samsung CPU. The 
> advantage of the Samsung S3C4510B is that it has on-chip ethernet and 
> ARM core.
> 
> If you want a board with some Flash, RAM and ARM CPU you'll find one in 
> a Samsung ML4500 laser printer, but it doesn't have ethernet.
> 
> An FPGA based design would give you the advantage that many specialised 
> interfaces could be developed without significant chip count.
> 
> The one thing that deters me from FPGA design is that there is no GPLed 
> Place and Route or bitstream generation software for the modern FPGAs. 
> Most of the tools from  the Xilinx WebPack ISE work under wine though.
> 
> One the hardware side, I was concerned that I would not be able to 
> solder close pitch SMDs. I tried soldering an SSOP28 package to a home 
> made PCB and was suprised by the result. SM rework flux proved really 
> useful.
> 
> Regards
> Andrew Rogers
> 
If it re-assures you, I've seen many PQ208 packages being placed down by
hand and working first time, most of the being Xilinx XC2S parts.

I would be interested if you had a PCB (for money) and a schematic for
aforementioned board lying around, although I must admit that the reason
for considering the FPGA route was its capability to easily integrate
additional features and rapid debugging.  It also takes a great deal of
the learning curve away if you have a completely stable toolchain ;)

If you know of a verilog simulator, I would like to hear about it.  I
have found the Alliance simulator for VHDL (just compiled it), but have
not had a really good look for verilog sims (or1k is verilog).


> 
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James Ogden <zemned@xxxxxxxxxx>


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