Other FPGA Applications 

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Summaries

This paper reports on a reconfigurable computing architecture that takes advantage of the reduced computational requirements of the polynomial transform method for computing 2-D DFTs.  An FPGA architecture is described that is capable of processing 24 512 x 512-pixel images per second.  The proposed system is 46% more area efficient than a row-column DFT processor implemented using the same technology.

A fractional delay (FD) filter is a device for performing bandlimited interpolation between the samples of a time-series.  The Farrow filter is a multirate filter structure that offers the option of continuously adjustable delay.  This paper presents a derivation of the method proposed by Farrow and demonstrates the performance and complexity of resampling filters using his technique.  The FPGA implementation of the Farrow architecture is described.  This implementation requires only 2.7% of the logic resources of a conventional polyphase decomposition with the same functionality.  The paper also develops some important system options made available to the designer as spin-offs of the derivation.

This paper investigates an architectural option for constructing high sample-rate narrow-band single rate and multi-rate filters using Xilinx FPGA technology.  The implementation provides a significant savings in device logic resources in comparison to other techniques that provide the same functionality.  The sigma-delta pre-processor is described and its implementation using the XC4000 FPGAs is reported.  The architecture of the reduced precision filter is presented and its FPGA realization described.

This paper reports on a reconfigurable computing architecture that takes advantage of the reduced computational requirements of the polynomial transform method for computing 2-D DFTs.  An FPGA architecture is described that is capable of processing 24 512 x 512-pixel images per second.  The proposed system is 46% more area efficient than a row-column DFT processor implemented using the same technology.

This paper investigates two options for the FPGA implementation of a very high-performance 2-D discrete cosine transform (DCT) processor for real-time applications.  The paper provides an overview of the DCT calculation using Distributed Arithmetic (DA) methods and describes the FPGA implementation.  Comparisons are made that show the polynomial transform approach to require 67% of the logic resources of a DA processor for equal throughputs.

This paper provides an overview of FPGA DSP from both an applications and implementation perspective.  Examples of FPGA DSP in image processing and digital communications will be used to illustrate the utility of FPGAs for high-performance DSP.  An overview of the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) will be provided, and considerations for its efficient FPGA implementation will be discussed.  A novel technique for efficiently implementing FPGA-based digital filters will be presented.  The design of several digital receiver functions as well as the use of run-time re-configuration will be covered.

In this paper, an adaptive temporal filter is proposed that lend itself to hardware implementation for real-time temporal processing of image sequences.  The proposed algorithm is based on adaptive Kalman filtering which is relatively simple and effective in its performance.  Adaptation in this case is with respect to motion in the image sequence as well as variation of noise statistics.  An efficient hardware implementation of this algorithm, based on FPGA technology, is proposed.

In this paper a nonlinear fuzzy filter is proposed for hardware implementation.  The proposed fuzzy filter is tailored for implementation into a Xilinx Virtex series of FPGA for real-time image sequence (video) restoration.  Implementation details and recommendations for further improvement are discussed.  Result of a simulation example from the proposed hardware implementation is also presented.

Using Matlab, sets of medical images have been evaluated with various kernel shapes and sizes.  The result of the work points toward a maximum kernel size of 15x15 for Gaussian kernel in unsharp masking.  To implement the enhancement algorithm a 15x15 image filter in a single chip realization has been completed in Xilinx FPGA (external line buffers).  The enhancement algorithm is partitioned into a low pass filter (LPF) and image mixing cores.  The Xilinx implementation utilizes the small size of constant coefficient multipliers (KCMs) and uses the fact that both separable kernels are identical.

This application note describes how to successfully integrate simulation into your design methodology.  This integration not only involves the simulation process but additionally uses test benches to run the different types of simulations.

This application note discusses methodology and optimization settings for Leonardo, Alliance Series and ModelSim when targeting all Xilinx devices.  The intent of this app note is to present a single methodology that works, not to exhaustively explore all the different options in the tool sets.

This application note is intended to assist designers who are using Synplicity and Xilinx to design a high density FPGA (100,000 gates).  Phase I describes synthesis-specific techniques and Phase II describes implementation-specific (place and route) techniques for optimizing a design for speed.

This technical paper discusses optimization techniques of digital signal processing algorithms into FPGAs. FPGAs offer both price and performance advantages over traditional off-the-shelf DSP solutions.

This paper discusses the benefits of using programmable logic in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications. Two case studies - a 16 tap, 8 bit fixed point FIR filter and a 24 bit Viterbi decoder - demonstrate the advantages of using programmable logic. The summary includes general information on how to decide if programmable logic is best for your DSP application.

FPGAs have become a competitive alternative for high performance DSP applications, previously dominated by general purpose DSP and ASIC devices. This paper describes the benefits of using an FPGA as a DSP Co-processor, as well as a stand-alone DSP Engine. Two case studies, a Viterbi Decoder Co-processor and a 16 Tap FIR Filter, are used to illustrate how the FPGA can radically accelerate system performance and reduce component count in a DSP application. Finally, different implementation techniques for reducing hardware requirements and increasing performance are described in detail.

The implementation of digital filters with sample rates above just a few MHz are generally difficult and expensive to realize using standard digital signal processors. At this point the potential of distributed arithmetic and parallel processing performed in a Xilinx FPGA becomes the ideal solution. The reprogrammable aspect of FPGAs permits optimum use of the available gates in the form of Constant (K) Coefficient Multipliers (KCMs), while enabling the filter to be tuned or changed at any time. Filters employing fully parallel KCMs are ideal for sample rates exceeding 27 MHz with the example able to operate above 50 MHz. This paper identifies the implementation of a Finite Impulse Response Filter using constant (k) coefficient multipliers in the XC4000E.

This paper introduces the Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology and helps you understand how FPGAs can be used for DSP system implementation. You will find a comparison of the implementation of a simple DSP function in both Programmable DSP and Gate Array technology. A brief explanation of Gate Array technology is followed by a description of Xilinx FPGA technology.

This paper discusses that the incorporation of a large FFT in a single FPGA, while noteworthy, may evoke a "so what" response. Its speed will be compared to the more standard single-chip DSP design. We propose to compare Xilinx FPGA performance with an exhaustive list of DSP devices. The test benchmark, established in 1995, is the execution time of a 256 point FFT. The speed in the FPGA design is set by the computation time of the radix 2 butterfly. For 16 bit data and a 50 MHz system clock the computation time indicated is 320 ns.

This paper discusses the use of Distributed Arithmetic to build faster FIR Filters in FPGAs and compares the performance to other off-the-shelf devices, including the Harris HSP43881. The candidate for this speed challenge is the symmetrical FIR filter; specifically, a programmable 8 tap filter with 8 bits of both coefficient and data values. It is programmable in the sense that its gate resources can be configured to do other tasks. Our adversary is the fixed point "DSP" chip which, in single precision, processes 16-bit words.

In this document the Distributed Arithmetic algorithm is derived and examples are offered that illustrate its effectiveness in producing gate-efficient designs. Distributed Arithmetic plays a key role in embedding DSP functions in the Xilinx XC4000 family of FPGA devices.

This design is the result of a collaborative effort between C-Cube Microsystems, Auravision Corporation (Fremont, CA), Xilinx, and Ring Zero Systems (San Mateo, CA). The design is a Motion-JPEG video codec for ISA bus PC platforms based on the CL550 JPEG, which features a direct hardware interface to the Auravision VxP500 Video Processor.

This application note describes the functionality and integration of a 16 Tap, 8 Bit Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter macro with predefined coefficients (e.g. low pass) and a sample rate of 5.44 mega-samples per second or 784 MIPS using an XC4000 device. The application note also describes how to set the coefficients of the FIR Filter to meet the needs of other applications.

This Application Note describes a Plug and Play ISA interface reference design using a Xilinx XC4003, or larger, FPGA device. This design implements the features used in a majority of Plug and Play designs.

An application note and design files for a microcontroller with dynamic bus sizing. Uses Xilinx LogiBLOX. VIEWlogic design files and a QBASIC-based assembler are available.

An application note and design files for building a pulse width modulation circuit in Xilinx programmable logic. Uses Xilinx LogiBLOX. VIEWlogic design files are available.

This manual provides a general overview of designing FPGAs with HDLs. It includes design hints for the novice HDL user, as well as for the experienced user who is designing FPGAs for the first time. Written for the Xilinx M1 development tools.

A Synopsys-specific version of the generic Synthesis and Simulation Design Guide.  Written for the Xilinx M1 development tools.

This application note describes how to configure an SRAM-based FPGA over a processor bus. It also illustrates the source code required to download a configuration bitstream using an IBM PC as a host microprocessor. 'C' source code is provided. Useful in reconfigurable computing applications.