| 1 | [[TracNav(HardwareUsersGuides/WARPv3/TOC)]] |
| 2 | = WARP v3 User Guide: USB UART = |
| 3 | The WARP v3 board includes a USB UART transceiver to ease interaction with embedded processors running in the FPGA. The transceiver is the FTDI FT230X. For the full specs refer to the |
| 4 | [http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/DataSheets/ICs/DS_FT230X.pdf FT230X datasheet]. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | User designs must implement a UART in the FPGA to interface with the FT230X. Designs built in XPS can use the xps_uartlite pcore to implement STDIN/STDOUT for MicroBlaze designs. The FT230X supports all baud rates implemented by xps_uartlite. Ensure your terminal emulator configures the virtual COM port for the same baud rate specified in the xps_uartlite instance. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | The USB UART transceiver is connected to two FPGA pins, listed in the UCF snippet below. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | {{{ |
| 11 | #!sh |
| 12 | #USB UART |
| 13 | Net fpga_0_UART_USB_TX_pin LOC = H9 | IOSTANDARD=LVCMOS25; #FT230X RXD pin |
| 14 | Net fpga_0_UART_USB_RX_pin LOC = J9 | IOSTANDARD=LVCMOS25; #FT230X TXD pin |
| 15 | }}} |
| 16 | |
| 17 | === Using the UART on a PC === |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Accessing the USB UART interface from a PC requires installation of the FTDI Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver. This driver is maintained by FTDI and is available free on their [http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm web site]. We have successfully tested the USB UART using the FTDI drivers under Windows 7 and OS X. Any platform supported by FTDI should also work. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Once the drivers are installed your PC will recognize a new COM port when you connect a micro USB cable to the WARP v3 board. Refer to the [wiki:howto/usb-uart USB UART HOWTO] for instructions on managing the COM port and recommendations on terminal emulators. |