Helpful Links for using FPGAs

The links below provide helpful information and tutorials on the ADC:

1) https://embeddedcentric.com/zedboard-tutorials/

This link provides multiple step by step tutorials using the Zedboard. Lab 8 specifically, ADC/DAC and Digital Audio Processing, which provides an in depth explanation of how the embedded ADC and DAC function. Analog to digital converters (ADC) are used to digitize audio signals and digital to analog converters (DAC) convert the stream of digital values into an analog signal, and this newly constructed analog signal could be sent to a speaker for playing. It provides an in depth tutorial for using the ADAU1761 audio Codec (coder-decoder) chip that is mounted on the Zedboard and used for audio processing such as, playing, recording, and processing. This lab makes it so that the switches control different pitches.
 

2) https://www.trosteltech.com/2016/09/13/an-fpga-tutorial-using-the-zedboard-beyond-circuits/

This link provides 27 tutorials for the Zedboard.


3) http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?doc_id=1330128&page_number=1

10 FPGA Design Techniques You Should Know:

FPGA’s are used for sequence performance and control-based actions. To do this, we use a Finite State Machine (FSM), which transitions between the two states Moore and Mealy. It can only be in one state at any point in time, and is triggered to switch between the two.

Basics of FPGA Math:

If we want our FPGA’s to perform mathematical operations we use the digital signal processing (DSP) which uses multiplier- accumulator functions. When using fixed-point math (where the decimal is at a fixed position) to represent large numbers, we need to use a larger number of bits. A fixed- point has an x and a y component, where x represents the integer bits and y represents the fractional bits. For example, 7,5 would be 7 integer bits and 5 fractional bits. This can also be written in Q format as Qm.n where m is the number of integer bits and n is the number of fractional bits.

First In, First Out (FIFO) Buffers:

These are used to buffer data when it passes through clock domains. They can also be used as buffers for image processing. If one element is being read while another is being written, they allow us to not use ‘ping-pong RAMS’ in order to transfer the data. We need to be aware to not overflow the FIFO, which can happen when the side reading data is not as fast as the side writing data.

The CORDIC Algorithm:

To implement trigonometric functions in the FPGA we use the CORDIC Algorithm, which uses only shift and add operators. It can operate in linear, circular or hyperbolic coordinate systems, and within each system it is either rotating or vectoring. 

Discrete & Fast Fourier Transformations

Fourier Transformations are important for FPGA applications. The parameters of the signal that we use require analysis of the amplitudes, phase changes, and frequency domain. Most of the time we are most interested in Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).

The rest of the topics are as follows:

Mestastability Protection

Polynomial Approximation

Infinite Impulse Response Filters

Finite Impulse Response Filters

Image Processing Filters

State Machine Design 

4) https://reference.digilentinc.com/learn/programmable-logic/tutorials/start

This link from Digilent provides Programmable Logic Tutorials for different Zedboards 

5)  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-lgsbmVeytsY3hQdi01elBDZm8/view?pli=1

Adam Taylor's Microzed Chronicles. How to use the Microzed with Vivado Design Suite.