Using The Xilinx Foundation Series Software:

Schematic Entry

  1. In the Win95 Start Menu select Programs, then select the program group Xilinx FoundationSeries. In this group click on Xilinx Foundation Project Manager.

  2. Select New Project in the File menu. Type in the project name that you will be working on, ex. "4bitPrm". The correct settings for Type, Family, Part, and Speed must be set to the values shown below. This is important.



  3. Click OK. The Project Manager window should appear. The Project Manager window will be used to coordinate all aspects of the design process.

  4. Click on the Schematic Editor box in the Project Manager. The Schematic Editor window should appear with a blank schematic.
  5. To add parts to the schematic, you will need the SC Symbols Toolbox. Select or use the quick key F3. The SC Symbols Toolbox should appear.



    Note: The cursor can take on several different functions in the Schematic Editor window. The cross-hair is the general cursor, and it is used to select buttons in the Schematic editor window, select and move parts in the schematic, and to select parts for placement in the SC Symbols toolbox. The AND gate cursor is utilized when a part is selected from the SC Symbols toolbox to be placed in the schematic. The Pen cursor is utilized when wires are being drawn. The AND gate and Pen cursors can be switched to the cross-hair cursor by selecting the button that is an Arrow in the Schematic Editor window.

  6. Because this schematic will be directly programmed into the FPGA, all inputs and outputs must have buffers and pads attached. For inputs, the first part is the I/O pads. Select the I/O terminal button and the I/O Terminal window will appear.

  7. Give the terminal a name, and chose its function, input or output, click OK, then place it in the design.



  8. Buffers must be placed between the logic circuit and its inputs and outputs. The IBUF (Input Buffer) must be selected from the SC Symbols toolbox and placed after each input. The OBUF (Output Buffer) must be selected and placed before each output. Leave ample space between parts to allow for wires, but do not place wires yet.



    Note: When placing multiple parts of the same type, you do not have to select it in the SC Symbols window each time, if the cursor looks like an AND gate then you can click on the part in the schematic that you would like to place again, and an exact copy of that part will be available through the cursor to be placed again.

  9. The pin number on the FPGA has to be specified in each of the IBUF and OBUF parts. Change the cursor mode into the cross-hair, and then double click on the IBUF or OBUF whose pin you would like to set. A Symbol Properties window will appear. In the Parameters section of this window you must add a parameter by selecting LOC in the Name box. Then in the Description box the pin number must be assigned, ex. P19. Select the Add button, and the list of parameters should now have LOC=p19. Click on Apply and then click on OK to return to the updated schematic.



  10. Select and place the rest of the symbols in your design. Note: You can search for the symbol you want by typing part of its name in the Symbol window, and then a short description of the part should appear.

  11. Wires must now be placed to connect all of the gates, inputs, outputs, and buffers. Select the Draw Wires button in the Schematic Editor window toolbar, or use the quick key F4. Click on one of the lines extending from the gates and then click on the other gate, OBUF, or IBUF to connect those parts together. Wire all of the parts in this manner.

  12. To perform an integrity test, pull-down the Options menu and select Integrity Test, or use the quick key Ctrl-F2. To create a netlist pull-down the Options menu and select Create Netlist, or use the quick key Shift-F2. The design should now be ready to simulate.

See: Using Xilinx Foundation Series Software: Function Simulation In the Waveform Viewer
Download a Microsoft Word 95 7.0 printable text only version of this document: SchematicEntry.doc

Back to Xilinx Foundation Series Main Menu