Script for Laboratory: Designing embedded ASIPs - CES

After the TestData-files for your application are created (see above and Chapter 8.3) and the
bitstream of your ISE project is created (see Chapter 6.1 and Chapter 6.2) you can initialize
the bitstream with your application data by executing “../initMem” in your application
subdirectory. This script will create two new files in your application subdirectory: DirectoryName.mem
and DirectoryName.bit. The mem file contains a memory dump for data and
instruction memory and is only a temporary file. The bit file is the final bitstream of your
CPU with your application initialized to the BRAM.
After you have created the final bitstream with the initialized BRAM, you can upload this
bitstream to the FPGA Board. Therefore, the software iMPACT from Xilinx, shown in
Figure 6-5 is used.
Figure 6-5
Uploading the Bitstream with iMPACT
Start iMPACT by executing “impact_8.1 &” (or for Windows by choosing Start menu
Xilinx ISE 8.1i Accessories iMPACT). Create a new project and after turning the
FPGA board on, choose the default point “Configure Device using Boundary Scan (JTAG)”.
Assign the bitstream of your application subdirectory to the Xilinx FPGA device. To reactivate
this menu point in a later run without restarting iMPACT, just right-click on the Xilinx
device and choose “Assign New Configuration File”. To finally program the Xilinx device
(i.e. the FPGA) choose “Program” as shown in Figure 6-5 and confirm the dialog without any
changes with “OK”.
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