IceStudio - Blinking LED

Creating a Blinking LED project using IceStudio involves designing a system that makes an LED connected to your FPGA board blink at a regular interval. This project is a common beginner exercise for understanding FPGA design. Here's a detailed walkthrough for implementing this using IceStudio, including the design and code.

1. Setup IceStudio

Download and Install IceStudio:
- Visit the IceStudio GitHub page or the official website.
- Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and follow the installation instructions.
Connect Your FPGA Board:
- Connect your FPGA development board (e.g., Lattice iCE40) to your computer via USB.
Open IceStudio:
- Launch IceStudio from your desktop or applications folder.

2. Create a New Project

Start a New Design:
- Open IceStudio and select “File” > “New” to start a new project.
Set Up Project Parameters:
- Choose the FPGA device that matches your development board (e.g., iCE40-HX8K).
- Save the project with a name like “BlinkingLED”.

3. Design the Blinking LED Logic

1. Add a Clock Source

Drag a Clock Block:
- From the components library, drag a Clock block to the canvas.
- Configure the clock block to use the FPGA board’s clock frequency (e.g., 12 MHz).

2. Create a Blink Control Logic

Add a Counter:
- Drag a Counter block from the components library to the canvas.
- Configure it to count up to a value that creates a delay for blinking (e.g., count to 1 million to create a 1-second delay with a 12 MHz clock).
Add a Flip-Flop:
- Drag a Flip-Flop block (or Register block) to the canvas.
- Configure it to toggle the LED state based on the counter’s overflow.
Create a Blinking Signal:
- Connect the output of the counter to the input of the flip-flop.
- The flip-flop will change its state every time the counter overflows, creating a blinking effect.

3. Add an LED Output

Drag an Output Block:
- Drag an Output block from the library to represent the LED.
- Connect the output of the flip-flop to this block to control the LED.
Configure the LED Pin Mapping:
- Go to the Pin Configuration section in IceStudio.
- Map the LED output to the correct physical pin on your FPGA board.

4. Generate and Synthesize the Design

Run Synthesis:
- Click on the Synthesize button in IceStudio. This converts your graphical design into a netlist suitable for the FPGA.
Place and Route:
- IceStudio will automatically handle the placement and routing of your design.
Generate Bitstream:
- Click on Generate Bitstream to create the bitstream file required to program your FPGA.

5. Program the FPGA

Connect Programmer Tool:
- Ensure that your FPGA board is connected to your computer.
Load the Bitstream:
- Use the iceprog tool or the integrated programming feature in IceStudio to upload the bitstream to your FPGA.
Verify the Blinking LED:
- Once programmed, your FPGA should control the LED to blink on and off at the interval set by the counter.

6. Example Code

Here is a simplified Verilog example for the Blinking LED project:

Blinking LED Module

verilog
module BlinkingLED (
    input clk,          // System clock
    input rst,          // Reset
    output reg led      // LED output
);

    reg [25:0] counter; // Counter for timing
    parameter MAX_COUNT = 12000000; // Adjust this value based on your clock frequency

    always @(posedge clk or posedge rst) begin
        if (rst) begin
            counter <= 0;
            led <= 0;
        end else begin
            if (counter < MAX_COUNT-1) begin
                counter <= counter + 1;
            end else begin
                counter <= 0;
                led <= ~led; // Toggle the LED state
            end
        end
    end
endmodule

7. Save and Document Your Work

Save the Project: Save your IceStudio project and any associated files.
Document Configuration: Note down the pin assignments, clock settings, and any other relevant details for future reference.

Summary

This detailed walkthrough guides you through creating a basic blinking LED project using IceStudio. The process includes setting up the clock, designing the blinking logic with counters and flip-flops, configuring the LED output, and programming the FPGA. The provided Verilog code illustrates a simple counter-based method for generating the blinking effect.

For visual aids and further examples, refer to IceStudio’s documentation or community tutorials that may include screenshots and additional context.

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