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Home Hardware Create ADC Design in MAX 10: Step-by-Step Guide

Create ADC Design in MAX 10: Step-by-Step Guide

Updated on Jun 28,2024

Create ADC Design in MAX 10: Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Setting up the Quarters Tool
  3. Configuring the ADC Design
  4. Creating the Block Symbol File
  5. Compiling and Loading the Design
  6. Using the ADC2 Kit for Measurements
  7. Viewing Raw Data and Signal Quality
  8. Linearity Mode and Differential Nonlinearity Measurements
  9. Conclusion
  10. Resources

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how to create an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) design for Max 10 using the QC software tool from Altera. We will cover the step-by-step process of setting up the tool, configuring the ADC design, creating the necessary files, compiling and loading the design, and using the ADC2 Kit for measurements. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to create an ADC design in Max 10 using QC. So let's get started!

Setting up the Quarters Tool

To begin, we need to set up the Quarters tool for creating the ADC design. Open the Quarters tool and navigate to the "File" menu. Then, choose "Open New Project" and select the desired working directory. Assign a name to your project, such as "MaxADC." With the empty project set up, we can now proceed to the next steps.

Configuring the ADC Design

Next, we will configure the ADC design. Open the IP Catalog by clicking on "Tools" and selecting "QES." In the IP Catalog, type "ADC" and double-click on "Altera Modular ADC." This will open the ADC IP window where we can configure the settings for the Max 10 ADC design.

In the General tab, we can configure the clock and reference voltage for the ADC. Select the desired configuration mode from the dropdown list, such as "Standard Sequence with AON and M Sample Storage." This configuration uses the standard sequencer microcontroller with internal on-chip RAM for storing ADC samples. We will also enable the debug path to use the ADC2 Kit for viewing the measured signals.

Set the ADC input clock, reference voltage source, and any other desired parameters. For example, you can choose to use an internal or external reference voltage. Once the configuration is complete, click "Finish" to proceed.

Creating the Block Symbol File

Now, let's create the block symbol file for the ADC design. In the IP Catalog, type "PL" and double-click on "Avalon PRL." This will open the Avalon PRL window, where we can configure the input and output clocks.

Set the input clock to match the onboard oscillator frequency of the Max 10 Dev Kit (e.g., 50 MHz). Configure the output clock to be 10 MHz, as the ADC IP uses this as a reference clock. Click "Finish" when done.

Next, we need to add the JTAG to Avalon Master Bridge module. In the IP Catalog, type "GTCH" and double-click on "JTAG to Avalon Master Bridge." No configuration is required for this module, so simply click "Finish."

With the necessary modules added, we can now connect them together to bring the design to life. Connect the clocks and reset signals as instructed in the documentation, ensuring proper signal flow between the modules. Don't forget to assign appropriate Pin locations for the clock and reset signals.

Compiling and Loading the Design

Once the design is complete, we can proceed to compile the design. Congratulations! If the design compiles successfully without any errors, we can proceed to load the compiled design onto the Max 10 Dev Kit.

Use the Quartus Programmer tool to load the design. Connect the Dev Kit and select the appropriate device. Add the compiled .sof file to the Programmer and proceed with the programming process. Once the programming completes, the Dev Kit is ready for use.

Using the ADC2 Kit for Measurements

To measure analog signals, we will utilize the ADC2 Kit. Select the QC file that was created earlier and open it in the QC tool. Launch the System Console by going to "Tools" and selecting "System Console" from the dropdown menu.

In the System Console, you will see the available ADC2 Kits. Connect your function generator to the Dev Kit and set the desired measurement parameters, such as frequency and waveform type.

Switch to the Scope mode to view the measured waveform in real-time. You can also view the raw data, measure signal quality in the frequency domain, and perform linearity mode measurements.

Viewing Raw Data and Signal Quality

In the Scope mode, you can view the waveform of the measured signals. At the same time, you can switch to the Raw Data tab to see the code measurements and converted voltage levels. This allows for detailed analysis and further processing of the data.

To evaluate signal quality, you can utilize the Frequency Domain mode. This mode provides a spectral representation of the measured waveform and allows for analysis of different frequency components.

Linearity Mode and Differential Nonlinearity Measurements

The ADC design also supports linearity mode measurements, which can be accessed through the Linearity Mode tab. Here, you can view the histogram, differential nonlinearity (DNL), and integral nonlinearity (INL) measurements. These measurements provide insights into the linearity performance of the ADC.

You can also view the raw data in the Linearity Mode, as well as perform additional measurements and analysis.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the process of creating an ADC design for Max 10 using the QC software tool. We have covered the setup of the tool, configuration of the ADC design, creation of the necessary files, and the steps of compiling and loading the design onto the Max 10 Dev Kit. Additionally, we have discussed the usage of the ADC2 Kit for measurements and the various features it offers, such as viewing raw data, signal quality analysis, and linearity mode measurements.

By following this guide, you should now have a good understanding of how to create an ADC design in Max 10 using QC and utilize the ADC2 Kit for measurements. Experiment with different settings and explore the capabilities of the Max 10 ADC to further enhance your designs.

Resources

Understanding the Vital Role of Intel's Basic Execution Registers
Enhanced AMD Ryzen CPUs: Unleashing Memory Overclocking and Stream Quality

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