Book Image

Architecting High-Performance Embedded Systems

By : Jim Ledin
4 (1)
Book Image

Architecting High-Performance Embedded Systems

4 (1)
By: Jim Ledin

Overview of this book

Modern digital devices used in homes, cars, and wearables contain highly sophisticated computing capabilities composed of embedded systems that generate, receive, and process digital data streams at rates up to multiple gigabits per second. This book will show you how to use Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and high-speed digital circuit design to create your own cutting-edge digital systems. Architecting High-Performance Embedded Systems takes you through the fundamental concepts of embedded systems, including real-time operation and the Internet of Things (IoT), and the architecture and capabilities of the latest generation of FPGAs. Using powerful free tools for FPGA design and electronic circuit design, you’ll learn how to design, build, test, and debug high-performance FPGA-based IoT devices. The book will also help you get up to speed with embedded system design, circuit design, hardware construction, firmware development, and debugging to produce a high-performance embedded device – a network-based digital oscilloscope. You’ll explore techniques such as designing four-layer printed circuit boards with high-speed differential signal pairs and assembling the board using surface-mount components. By the end of the book, you’ll have a solid understanding of the concepts underlying embedded systems and FPGAs and will be able to design and construct your own sophisticated digital devices.
Table of Contents (15 chapters)
1
Section 1: Fundamentals of High-Performance Embedded Systems
5
Section 2: Designing and Constructing High-Performance Embedded Systems
10
Section 3: Implementing and Testing Real-Time Firmware

Laying out the PCB

Once we have a completed, rules-checked schematic diagram, the next step is to begin PCB layout. Before laying out the circuit board itself, we must first assign footprints to each of the circuit components. KiCad maintains schematic symbols and device PCB footprints as separate entities, allowing the user to associate the correct footprint with each device.

We will continue the schematic diagram containing the +1.8V power supply and the GDT we created earlier in this chapter. Click the Assign PCB footprints to schematic symbols icon, which is just to the right of the electrical rules check icon. This will open the Assign Footprints dialog and list the components in the circuit as shown in the following figure:

Figure 6.19 – Footprint assignment dialog

Of the four components in our circuit, only one, the TLV757 voltage regulator, already has a footprint assigned. Perform the following steps to assign the remaining components...