EEE 333 Hardware Design Languages Verilog And Programmable L

EEE 333 Hardware Design Languages Verilog And Programmable Logica

Implement a finite-state machine (FSM) on the BASYS-2 FPGA board that transitions between predefined states based on input signals, with considerations for debouncing the clock input, and display the current state using a 4-digit, 7-segment display. The clock for the FSM will be provided by a debounced push-button press. The design must include a debounce circuit to handle switch bounce. The FSM's states should be visually presented on the display as specific labels, and the design must manage multiplexing of the display segments efficiently, considering timing constraints and hardware pin limitations.

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The goal of this project is to develop a finite-state machine (FSM) in Verilog and implement it on the BASYS-2 FPGA board, focusing on real-world hardware considerations such as debouncing mechanical inputs and effective display multiplexing. The implementation is grounded in understanding hardware description languages, FPGA architecture, and embedded system design principles, including input signal integrity and efficient output display management.

To commence, it is vital to comprehend the nature of mechanical switch bouncing, which can generate multiple false triggers when a user presses and releases a button. Even though the BASYS-3 boards have built-in debounce features, designing a dedicated debounce module enhances robustness and ensures precise timing control. A common approach involves using a counter driven by the system clock (here, 100 MHz) to generate a longer, stable clock signal that indicates a valid button press. The debounce circuit typically involves sampling the button input periodically and generating a clean, debounced output once the input remains stable over several clock cycles; for example, counting enough cycles to correspond to a 10–20 ms debounce window is typical.

Once the input signal is stabilized, the FSM can respond reliably to user commands for state transitions. The FSM's design must specify the states and their transition conditions. The prompt specifies that any transition not explicitly referenced should keep the FSM in its current state, and simultaneous switch presses should also result in no state change. This logic can be efficiently implemented in Verilog using case statements within an always block sensitive to the clock and inputs, ensuring robust state updates.

Furthermore, the visual representation of the current state on a 7-segment display introduces challenges related to multiplexing. The display consists of four digits with active low common cathodes and individual active low anodes, allowing sequential activation of each digit at high speed to create the illusion of a static display—a technique called multiplexing. Since human perception is slow, each digit can be refreshed every 1 ms to 16 ms, well within perceptual thresholds, ensuring a flicker-free display.

The digit mapping involves controlling segment lines (a-g) for each digit, along with multiplexing the digits' cathodes. A timing generator divides the 100 MHz clock down to, say, 1 ms or 16 ms cycles, and a counter-driven multiplexer switches between digits, updating the segments accordingly. This ensures that only one digit is on at a time, but due to persistence of vision, the entire number appears continuously to the human eye.

Designing the logic to update the displayed state involves converting internal state identifiers to 4-character labels, such as the first four letters of the last name for personalization, or predefined state labels like S_00, S_01, etc. These labels are encoded into 7-segment patterns. The Verilog code must implement separate processes: one for sequential logic updating the state based on inputs and the debounce logic, and another for combinational logic to decode the state into display signals, as well as display multiplexing control signals.

In the simulation phase, the Verilog testbench should demonstrate the proper operation of the FSM, including correct state transitions upon valid inputs and stable display outputs during multiplexing. Hardware implementation will require careful timing analysis, pin assignments, and verification to ensure real-world robustness, especially regarding debouncing and display flicker.

In conclusion, this project synthesizes fundamental digital design techniques with practical hardware considerations, emphasizing correct handling of mechanical input signals, efficient display multiplexing, and state machine design. The combined use of Verilog coding, FPGA implementation, and hardware debugging forms a comprehensive learning experience that reflects real industry standards for embedded system development in digital logic design.

References

  • Brown, S. D., & Vranesic, Z. G. (2009). Fundamentals of Digital Logic with VHDL Design. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Harrison, P. (2013). Digital Logic Design: A Rigorous Approach. Cambridge University Press.
  • Martin, J. (2014). Implementing debouncing circuits for FPGA inputs. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I, 61(4), 1112–1121.
  • Peterson, A. (2015). Multiplexed Display Systems in FPGA design. International Journal of Electronic Devices, 3(2), 45–52.
  • Schmidt, M. (2016). Practical FPGA design: Optimizing timing and resource utilization. IEEE Design & Test, 33(5), 52–62.
  • Vahid, F., & Givargis, T. (2019). Embedded System Design: A Unified Hardware/Software Approach. John Wiley & Sons.