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FPGA Data Capture

Capture signal data from live FPGA (requires HDL Verifier™)

Use the FPGA data capture feature to observe signals from your design while the design is running on an FPGA. This feature captures a window of signal data from the FPGA and returns the data to MATLAB® or Simulink®. To capture the signals, HDL Verifier generates an IP core that you must integrate into your HDL project and deploy to the FPGA along with the rest of your design. HDL Verifier also generates an app, System object™, and Simulink model that communicate with the FPGA and return the data to MATLAB or Simulink.

To capture FPGA data:

  1. Generate customized components and an IP core. Specify port names and sizes for the generated IP. These ports connect to the signals you want to capture and the signals you want to use as triggers. Triggers control when the capture occurs.

  2. Integrate the generated IP into your FPGA design, and deploy the design to your FPGA board. This step is automated when using HDL Workflow Advisor.

  3. Use the generated app, System object, or Simulink model to capture data for analysis, verification, or display. You can configure a trigger condition to control when the capture occurs.

    For this step, you must download a hardware support package for HDL Verifier. Available support packages are:

    • HDL Verifier Support Package for Intel® FPGA Boards

    • HDL Verifier Support Package for Xilinx® FPGA Boards

    More documentation for the FPGA data capture feature is included with the installation of either support package. See Download FPGA Board Support Package (HDL Verifier).

The following diagram shows two workflows for capturing data:

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