Lab 2: Four Digit Hex Counter

Introduction:

The purpose of this lab is to build off of the design from Lab 1 to create a four digit (16-bit) counter that will display its value using all four 7-segment displays on the Nexys2 board.

Steps:

Hex Counter :

1. Start the Vivado program
   • This group used Vivado 2018.3
2. Create a copy of the hexcounter project from lab 1
   1. Click save as and use the name 'hex4digit'

3. Open the counter.vhd file in Sources so that it can account for the 16-bit counter and multiplexer

1. Use the code from Figure 2

4. Similarly, update the hexcount.vhd file

1. Use the code from Figure 3

5. Run Synthesize to check for any VHDL design errors

6. Run Implementation

7. Generate Bitstream

8. Plug in the device if it is not already and Vivado should detect the board

9. Click Program Device and load the generated bitstream onto the board

1. If you cannot click Program Device, click Open Target first

The 7-segment LEDs on the Nexys board should now be counting up, starting from #0000 to #FFFF

Storing Code on Platform Flash :

1. Click Tools -> Generate Memory Configuration File
2. Configure your options to match the screenshot in Figure 1
3. Ensure the board is connected to your machine
4. Open Hardware Manager
   1. Select Add Configuration Memory Device
   2. Choose correct memory part
      • s25fl128sxxxxxx0-spi-x1_x2_x4
   3. Click Next
   4. Add the .mcs file created in part 2 to the Configuration file field
   5. Leave the rest of the fields as their default values
   6. Right click hardware target and select "Boot from Configuration Memory Device"

The program should now start running. If not, click the PROG button on the Nexys board. Since it is stored locally, it can be plugged into any device that can give it power and then should run the program.

Helpful Resources:

How to set up the bitstream:

http://users.wpi.edu/~rjduck/Nexys4DDR%20Vivado%20VHDL%20Decoder%20Tutorial.pdf

How to Connect The Nexys A7 to your computer:

https://github.com/Digilent/Nexys-A7-100T-GPIO

Dr. Ackland's Lab Manual:

http://personal.stevens.edu/~backland/Courses/Course487_Spring_18_files/Labs/Lab2.pdf

GitHub:

https://github.com/kevinwlu/dsd