1============================================================================== 2Linux Driver Source for Xilinx FPGA firmware download 3============================================================================== 4 5 6TABLE OF CONTENTS. 7 81. SUMMARY 92. BACKGROUND 103. DESIGN 114. HOW TO USE 125. REFERENCE 13 141. SUMMARY 15 16 - Download Xilinx FPGA firmware 17 - This module downloads Xilinx FPGA firmware using gpio pins. 18 192. BACKGROUND 20 21 An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable hardware that is 22 used in various applications. Hardware design needs to programmed through 23 a dedicated device or CPU assisted way (serial or parallel). 24 This driver provides a way to download FPGA firmware. 25 263. DESIGN 27 28 - load Xilinx FPGA bitstream format[1] firmware image file using 29 kernel firmware framework, request_firmware() 30 - program the Xilinx FPGA using SelectMAP (parallel) mode [2] 31 - FPGA prgram is done by gpio based bit-banging, as an example 32 - platform independent file: gs_fpgaboot.c 33 - platform dependent file: io.c 34 354. HOW TO USE 36 37 $ insmod gs_fpga.ko file="xlinx_fpga_top_bitstream.bit" 38 $ rmmod gs_fpga 39 405. USE CASE (from a mailing list discussion with Greg) 41 42 a. As a FPGA development support tool, 43 During FPGA firmware development, you need to download a new FPGA 44 image frequently. 45 You would do that with a dedicated JTAG, which usually a limited 46 resource in the lab. 47 However, if you use my driver, you don't have to have a dedicated JTAG. 48 This is a real gain :) 49 50 b. For the FPGA that runs without config after the download, which 51 doesn't talk to any of Linux interfaces (such as PCIE). 52 53 We download FPGA firmware from user triggered or some other way, and that's it. 54 Since that FPGA runs on its own, it doesn't require a linux driver 55 after the download. 56 57 c. For the FPGA that requires config after the download, which talk to 58 any of linux interfaces (such as PCIE) 59 60 Then, this type of FPGA config can be put into device tree and have a 61 separate driver (pcie or others), then THAT driver calls my driver to 62 download FPGA firmware during the Linux boot, the take over the device 63 through the interface. 64 656. REFERENCE 66 67 1. Xilinx APP NOTE XAPP583: 68 http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/application_notes/xapp583-fpga-configuration.pdf 69 2. bitstream file info: 70 http://home.earthlink.net/~davesullins/software/bitinfo.html 71