Looking for programmable device (FPGA, CPLD...???)

[McWired]

Hi,

I want to build a board to connect a microcontroller to a TFT
display. The board consists of the microcontroller, a programmable
device and a FPC connector for the screen. Since I want to test
different screens, and each of these has a different pinout and line
number for the FPC cable, the programmable device is needed to
reroute the lines from the microcontroller and the power supply
lines. Basically, it should consist of a latch block to hold the
address lines, bidirectional data lines and control/status lines, and
power supply including ground. The output current for the supply is
maximun 50mA, and the switching frequency at about 5Mhz.

The FPC connector will be soldered according to the cable size, since
the board will have a large array of connection pads to accomodate
this part.

I've never try a FPGA neither a CPLD so that's new field for me, but I
think that is the type of component that I should use to interface the
microcontroller with the screens. Any comments will be highly
appreciated.

Mark.

 

[Andrew Holme]

Hi,

I want to build a board to connect a microcontroller to a TFT
display. The board consists of the microcontroller, a programmable
device and a FPC connector for the screen. Since I want to test
different screens, and each of these has a different pinout and line
number for the FPC cable, the programmable device is needed to
reroute the lines from the microcontroller and the power supply
lines. Basically, it should consist of a latch block to hold the
address lines, bidirectional data lines and control/status lines, and
power supply including ground. The output current for the supply is
maximun 50mA, and the switching frequency at about 5Mhz.

The FPC connector will be soldered according to the cable size, since
the board will have a large array of connection pads to accomodate
this part.

I've never try a FPGA neither a CPLD so that's new field for me, but I
think that is the type of component that I should use to interface the
microcontroller with the screens. Any comments will be highly
appreciated.

Mark.

An FPGA would be overkill if your design only required a small percentage of
the chip's resources. It sounds like a CPLD would be more than adequate for
the job, and would have the advantage of retaining its configuration when
power is removed, although, if you used an FPGA, and you loaded the
configuration data from the microcontroller, you could possibly avoid the
hassle of needing a boot PROM. You can download the vendor's development
software (Altera Quartus or Xilinx ISE) and try compiling a prototype
project before making a final decision. Use Verilog.

 

[McWired]

When using one of this programmable devices, is it posible to transmit
a voltage level (5V or 3.3V) from one input to an output, so I can
reroute the Power Supply lines.?

Mark

 

[jasen]

When using one of this programmable devices, is it posible to transmit
a voltage level (5V or 3.3V) from one input to an output, so I can
reroute the Power Supply lines.?

almost.


Bye.
Jasen

 

[Andrew Holme]

When using one of this programmable devices, is it posible to transmit
a voltage level (5V or 3.3V) from one input to an output, so I can
reroute the Power Supply lines.?

Mark

No. PLD outputs are standard logic outputs with limited current drive
capability. I suppose you could take a few hundred microamps or even a
milliamp or two; but it would be bad practice. You can't route different
voltages. Outputs belong to a particular I/O bank which has power supplied
from a dedicated VDD pin or pins.

 

[joseph2k]

When using one of this programmable devices, is it posible to transmit
a voltage level (5V or 3.3V) from one input to an output, so I can
reroute the Power Supply lines.?

Mark

No.