Using SignalTap II Embedded Logic Analyzers in SOPC Builder Systems
November 2007, ver. 1.1
Application Note 323
Introduction
The SignalTap II Embedded Logic Analyzer (ELA) is a system-level debugging tool that captures and displays real-time signals in a system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design. By using a SignalTap II ELA in systems generated by SOPC Builder, designers can observe the behavior of hardware (such as peripheral registers, memory buses, and other on-chip components) in response to software execution.
Objective
This application note explains how to use a SignalTap II ELA to monitor signals located inside a system module generated by the SOPC Builder. The examples described in this document use the standard hardware and count binary software. A simplified version of a block diagram of the system is shown in Figure 1. This system contains a Nios II processor, an on-chip memory, and an interface to external DDR SDRAM memory, among other things. The count binary program counts from 0 to 0×FF repeatedly. Output of the counting process is displayed on the LEDs, the seven segment display, and the LCD. Four push buttons are used to control output to these devices. Figure 1. An Example SOPC Builder System
LCD Controller
LCD Module
CPU
System Interconnect Fabric
DDR SDRAM Controller
(1)
DDR SDRAM
PIOs (2)
Buttons
(3)
On-Chip Memory
Notes to Figure 1:
(1) (2) (3) This is the external memory interface. These are the parallel I/O (PIO) internal registers. This is the on-chip memory interface.
Altera Corporation AN-323-1.1
1 Preliminary
Using SignalTap II Embedded Logic Analyzers in SOPC Builder Systems
This application note explains how to connect the SignalTap II Embedded Logic Analyzer to three different types of signals (see Figure 1) that are useful to monitor:
■ ■ ■
Signals connected to an external I/O interface, in this case an external SDRAM memory. Internal registers of a peripheral inside the system module, in this case the PIO. Avalon interfaces between the System Interconnect Fabric logic and a peripheral inside the system module, in this case an on-chip memory.

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