1. Getting Started

ESP32 Programmer for Fipsy

You can use an ESP32 to program the Fipsy FPGA. Be aware that there are many variants of the ESP32 board, so some of the details below may be different. Both the ESP32 and the Fipsy FPGA operate at 3.3V and should be able to be connected to each other directly.

Here is the wiring we will need:

Fipsy                      ESP32

Pin 1 3.3V      ←     3.3V
Pin 2 GND     ←     GND
Pin 3 SCK      ←     Pin D18 (SCK, in code set as pin 35)
Pin 4 MISO   →     Pin D19 (MISO, in code set as pin 38)
Pin 5 MOSI   ←     Pin D23 (MOSI, in code set as pin 36)
Pin 6 SS         ←     Pin D5 (SS, in code set as pin 34)

6. Install Dependencies

You will need to install the Arduino IDE – https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Then you will need to make sure you can program your ESP32 in Arduino. Look around for guides for your specific device. We found this guide to be particularly useful:
https://randomnerdtutorials.com/installing-the-esp32-board-in-arduino-ide-windows-instructions/

See also,  https://docs.espressif.com/projects/arduino-esp32/en/latest/installing.html

• Note how you have to add ESP32 boards to the Arduino IDE, it’s not available by default
• If this is your first time connecting the ESP32 by USB, you may also need the CP210x USB to UART Bridge driver, which is mentioned in the first link, and links to the Silicon Labs driver files here: https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloads

See how you can add ESP32 as an available board set (after adding the additional boards URLs – https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json )

Before continuing, make sure you can push a simple program to your ESP32 via USB.

Getting netcat command – nc

Our code will use the `nc` command, which you can get on Windows using WSL. For example you can install Ubuntu on Windows via the AppStore – https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pdxgncfsczv?hl=en-US&gl=US

7. Programming the ESP32

Grab the code from this repo:

https://github.com/MoCoMakers/esp-fipsy  ( Forked from: https://github.com/yoursunny/esp-fipsy )

In particular open examples/TcpFipsyLoader/TcpFipsyLoader.ino in your Arduino IDE. This is the file you need to burn to your ESP32. To make it compile, you will need to upload a Fipsy Arduino Library that includes both:
esp-fipsy\src\fipsy.hpp
esp-fipsy\src\fipsy.cpp

This .zip can be uploaded:

Once you have your .zip file, add it as a library to the TcpFipsyLoader.ino project by going to Sketch-> Include Library -> Add .ZIP Library..  (and selecting the .zip file you made).

At this time, verify that you can Compile the code successfully. If you still still have trouble see the Contact Us page for support tips.

Modify the following lines in your .ino file:

Add your WiFi details here:

const char* WIFI_SSID = "my-ssid";
const char* WIFI_PASS = "my-pass";

If you have Fipsy Ver 2 – use the Fipsy::FuseTable<343936> otherwise if you have the older, Fipsy Ver 1 use the other value.

// Choose either Fipsy::FuseTable<343936> for MachX02-1200 or Fipsy::FuseTable<73600> for MachXO2-256. These are the QF values from the .jed file.
//using FipsyClass = Fipsy::FuseTable<73600>;
using FipsyClass = Fipsy::FuseTable<343936>;

Now upload this code to the ESP32. You may need to press the “Boot” button for 3 seconds while it says “Connecting……” to initiate the firmware upload. Once the upload completes, switch to your Serial Monitor and you should see something like this (assuming your Fipsy is not connected).

8. Wire your ESP32 to the Fipsy FPGA

Connect your devices using jumper cables. I am using female-to-female jumpers.

Here is the wiring we will need:

Fipsy                      ESP32

Pin 1 3.3V      ←          3.3V
Pin 2 GND     ←       GND
Pin 3 SCK      ←     Pin D18 (SCK, in code set as pin 35)
Pin 4 MISO     →      Pin D19 (MISO, in code set as pin 38)
Pin 5 MOSI    ←     Pin D23 (MOSI, in code set as pin 36)
Pin 6 SS        ←     Pin D5 (SS, in code set as pin 34)

Once your device is wired (and ESP32 is still connected via USB in the Arduino IDE) – switch to your Serial Monitor. Tap on the “EN” button to reboot the device, and the following should be displayed. Notice how you will get an IP address – if you don’t double check that you wired your Fipsy properly, and uploaded a version of the ESP32 code that has your WiFi details (see above).

9. Upload your JEDEC File to the ESP32

Launch a command prompt that has the ‘nc’ command (this might be WSL in Windows).

Using the IP address from the previous step, use the `nc` command to upload your .jed file to your device. Make sure your Lattice Diamond project has the correct device selected, to get started with creating a JEDEC file (the .jed file you create that has your design in it) – Basic Setup of the Fipsy FGPA

See the README here: https://github.com/MoCoMakers/esp-fipsy/tree/main/examples/TcpFipsyLoader

Run the following command to send your .jed file

nc esp32-ip-address 34779 < filename.jed

Troubleshooting Tips

• No Fipsy Found.
  • Check your physical wiring.
  • Check the pinout in the Arduino file, are these the right SPI pins for your device? fpga.begin(18, 19, 23, 5)
    • Other common pins are:
      • 14, 12, 13, 15
• JEDEC Parse Error 3:
  • Double check that your .jed file is compiled for the rigth kind of device.
  • Check that the QF number in the .jed file matches the fuseTable.resize(VALUE) in the .ino
  • Choose either fuseTable.resize(343936) for MachX02-1200 or fuseTable.resize(73600) for MachXO2-256.

6. SSH or log into your Raspberry Pi

Note that you will need your Pi to be connected to the internet, otherwise, you will have to transfer the example files via USB.

If you want to program with Arduino, or Windows-only, check out this page on other programmer options.

7. Install Git on Raspberry Pi

Install git with: sudo apt-get install git

8. Compile the Raspberry Pi FPGA Programmer

Type:

git clone https://github.com/MocoMakers/Fipsy-FPGA-edu
cd ~/Fipsy-FPGA-edu/Programmer/RaspberryPi
ls

gcc fipsyloader.c -o fipsyfpgaloader
ls

Move the executable to the user desktop (or the folder where you want to have your .jed output files)

cp ./fipsyfpgaloader ~/fipsyfpgaloader

9. Set up your JEDEC File

Copy the JEDEC file (.jed) to the home directory:

cd ~/Fipsy-FPGA-edu/FipsyBaseline_DiamondProject/FipsyV2_X02-1200/Implementation/
# For Fipsy V1 X02-256 use the following instead:
# cd ~/Fipsy-FPGA-edu/FipsyBaseline_DiamondProject/FipsyV1_X02-256/Implementation/

cp FipsyBaseline_Implementation.jed ~/blinky2Hz.jed

10. Enable the SPI port on your Raspberry Pi

SPI is used to program the Fipsy FPGA, and it must be enabled on the Raspberry Pi.

On the Raspberry Pi type:

sudo raspi-config

Next select ‘Interfacing Options’

Go down to ‘SPI’ and select that option.

Select ‘Yes’ to enable the SPI

11. Wire up the Raspberry Pi:

Fispy FPGA -> Rasberry Pi

Pin 1 -> 3.3V (GPIO 1)
Pin 2 -> GND (GPIO 39)
Pin 3 -> SCLK (GPIO 23)
Pin 4 -> MISO (GPIO 21)
Pin 5 -> MOSI (GPIO 19)
Pin 6 -> CS0 (GPIO 24)

12. Run the Programmer on the JEDEC file (.jed)

On the raspberry pi type:

cd ~
./fipsyfpgaloader blinky2Hz.jed

You should see something like this, except with your own unique manufacturer ID (on the FPGA itself).

If you get all zeros for the Device ID, double check your wiring:

Congratulations, you are done!!

13. Getting additional .jed files onto the Raspberry Pi

There are many ways to get what is essentially a text file onto the Raspberry Pi (from the Lattice project’s ‘Implementation’ folder).

The easiest way is via SFTP, see item 5 on this guide:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/copy-data-raspberry-pi-pc/

You may want to set up a shared folder, for another elegant solution:

Setting up a shared folder between Raspberry Pi and Windows:

www.mocomakers.com/rapid-programming-with-fipsy-on-the-raspberry-pi/

Note that the fipsyfpgaloader you compiled above in step 8 is an executable file. That means you can copy to a shared directory you set up. The command to copy the executable would be

cp /PATH_TO_FILE/fipsyfpgaloader /NEW/PATH/fipsyfpgaloader

You could then change the the relevant folder:

cd /RELEVANT/PATH

and run the relevant ‘program FPGA’ command:

./fipsyfpgaloader NAME_OF_FILE.jed

Arduino Programmer for Fipsy

You can use Arduino to program the Fipsy FPGA. However, be aware, MOST Arduino devices operated at 5 volts, which is enough to fry the 3.3 volt Fipsy device. This means a Logic Level Converter should be used:

Something like this:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12009

or this

https://amzn.to/2r7m8Ml

We are working with 4 data lines with the SPI protocol. The devices above have an HV – high voltage reference, and an LV – low voltage reference, that defines the voltage that each side of the device operates at. Because we need a 3.3V reference voltage, we are supporting the Arduino Uno and Arduino Mega in particular (they have a very useful 3.3V output voltage pin).

Note that in a pinch you can get away with using only resistors to create a voltage level divider circuit, allowing 5V to talk to 3.3V devices (5 volts in to the Fipsy is bad, but 3.3V to a 5V device won’t hurt the 5V device, and should enough for 3.3V to 5V device communication). To figure out what resistors you’ll need use a Voltage Divider Calculator:

http://www.ohmslawcalculator.com/voltage-divider-calculator

Here is the wiring we will need:

Fipsy                      Arduino

Pin 1 3.3V      ←          3.3V on Arduino Uno
Pin 2 GND     ←       GND
Pin 3 SCK      ←      [V Divider]      ←     Pin 13 (SCK)
Pin 4 MISO     →      Pin 12 (MISO)
Pin 5 MOSI    ←      [V Divider]     ←     Pin 11 (MOSI)
Pin 6 SS        ←      [V Divider]    ←     Pin 10 (SS)

For now you need to run the code from command line (later we will add executables for all the major operating systems).

Download these files:

https://github.com/MocoMakers/Arduino-Fipsy-Programmer

You will need to install the Arduino IDE.

Install Python 3.1+

and Install a python module – PySerial

Installation for PySerial

Open your Python 3.1+ and double-check that the following two commands work as intended:

from Tkinter import Tk
import serial

Upload the Arduino_Programmer.ino sketch to the Arduino.

Make sure you upload the ‘Arduino_Programmer.ino’ file to your Arduino – note that ‘MachXO2.h’ is a required dependency, so make sure its in the same folder as the .ino file.

Once this is done, keep the USB connected to the Arduino. Take note of what port your Arduino is using in the Arduino IDE, you will want to match that later.

From your command line, change directory to the location of your downloaded folder

For example:

cd C:\PATH\TO\Arduino-Fipsy-Programmer\

Then run the script in python:

python FileChooser.py

First, select the port the Arduino is on from the drop down list (it should match the one in the Arduino IDE).

Next click ‘Check Device ID’.. you should get something like 01 DB 23 88, or a unique id for your device in the command line window. If you get:
FF FF FF FF, then there is a problem with the connection. Check you wiring, and try again.

Now select your .jed file created by Lattice Diamond using the ‘Select your file’ button (if you have one).

Click ‘Program Device’. Note this will erase your current configuration first, then program the new configuration.