EEBench Installation

Webserver on a PC

Prof. Dr. Jörg Vollrath

EE Bench Research Summary

Overview

Hardware

Windows PC
BASYS3 FPGA board
Breadboard with 16 Bit R2R DAC
16 resistors 100k, 17 resistors 200k

Software

NodeJS (18.12.1, npm 8.19.2)
FPGA Programming files (Vivado 2019.1)
NodeJS server and client files (V06)

Software installation time: 1.5 hours
Hardware installation time: 1.5 hours
Test usage: 1 hour

Node Install

Get zip file from: https://nodejs.org/download/release/v20.9.0/
node-v20.9.0-win-x64.zip
Inside should be a directory node_modules/npm and node_modules/corepack
Unzip all files to C:\temp\NodeEEBench\node
Get a command prompt: cmd.exe
Change to the node directory C:\temp\NodeEEBench\node or make a new text file cmd.bat with a line: start cmd.exe
start this batch file by double clicking on it
Set the path variable at the command line:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\temp\NodeEEBench\node
Look for node.js version at the command prompt
node --version
Look for npm version at the command prompt
npm --version

Everything will be installed (copied) to C:\temp\NodeEEBench without administrator rights.
Some node zip files contain npm otherwise npm has to be installed separately.
Get node binary (node.exe) from http://nodejs.org/download/
Download the last zip version of npm from http://nodejs.org/dist/npm
Unpack the zip inside the node folder.

FPGA programming environment

Install Vivado 2019.1 or higher version
Download Xilinx BASYS3 VHDL files: EEBench_V06.zip
Unzip the file to a subdirectory Xilinx
Open Vivado and create a new project: EEBench

Add Sources .vhd
Add constraints
Default Part: xc7a35tcpg236-1

Make EEBench to top: Sources, EEBench, right click set as top
XADC IP should be present
Generate bitstream
Connect BASYS3 board via USB
Program and Debug, Open Hardware Manager, Open Target
Program and Debug, Open Hardware Manager, Program Devices

If the XADC is not present the project can not be compiled and only the bit file can be transfered to the BASYS3 board
The BASYS3 can also be permanently programmed by transfering the bitfile to the Flash memory.

Nodejs Webserver

Download Node js command files: NodeEEBench_V06.zip
Extract NodeEEBench_V06 to a subdirectory NodeEEBench
Open a cmd line window and check for COM ports:
Command line instruction: Mode
Lists all COM ports and gives COM4 for BASYS3
Check the COM port settings with a text editor in ServerEEBench.js
var serialPort({ path: "COM22", ..}) and modify accordingly.
Set the path variable in the file NodeEEBench.bat:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\temp\NodeEEBench\node
Go to the subdirectory and double click on NodeEEBench.bat
A command line window should open and the webserver should be started.
Open a browser window and connect to the server:
http://localhost:3000/

Issues

Missing nodejs modules
Cannot find module 'express'
Open command line window. Change to node directory. Install missing modules with npm.
npm install express
npm install serialport
npm install socket.io

Check the COM port settings with a text editor in ServerEEBench.js


	       var serialPort = new SerialPort({  //"\\.\COM22"
        path: "COM22",
        baudRate: 230400      //  Baud rate befor 19200, 52 us per bit
      });

and modify accordingly.

Go to the subdirectory and double click on NodeEEBench.bat
A command line window should open and the webserver should be started.
If there are problems open a command line window, set the path and start node ServerEEBench.js and examine the error message

Hardware assembly and test

Assemble a 16 bit R2R DAC on the breadboard according to the schematic and picture
Connect the inputs D0..D15 to the PMOD JB, JC connectors
JB: lower Bits D7..D0: 10,9,8,7,4,3,2,1
JC: upper bits D15..D8: 10,9,8,7,4,3,2,1
Connect the output to the PMOD JXA oscilloscope connectors
Channel 1: JXA 1 in JXA 7 gnd
Channel 2: JXA 2 in JXA 8 gnd
Channel 3: JXA 3 in JXA 9 gnd
Channel 4: JXA 4 in JXA 10 gnd
Programm the AWG with the Web interface and look at the waveforms with the oscilloscope
Look at the FFT and play around

For debugging an external wave generator and oscilloscope should be used.

Summary

Detailed instructions for installation
Further information
EE Bench Research Summary
Questions: Email
joerg.vollrath(a)hs-kempten.de

Platform Software and Hardware

Easy to understand, use, modify and expand
Hardware: FPGA, Arduino, RaspberryPi
Hardware: DAC and ADC
Software: Modules, Versions, Configuration, Interfaces
Documentation on the Internet

Tasks EEBench Software

FPGA and software control of 8 digital PMOD pins
Clock, counter, serial interface protocol, SERDES
Make a digital signal processing interface
One OSC input is processed via a user defined software dsp algorithm (PID, filter, amplifier) implemented in FPGA hardware and the output given to AWG.
Implement Ramp INL and DNL measurement
Make EEBench available for more platforms and hardware configurations
Implement second/third signal generator
Make EEbench more user friendly for hardware and software development

Tasks Hardware

Support Arduino Maker Wifi1010 with ADC, DAC PMOD
Activate Arduino Maker Wifi1010 WiFi interface
Support RaspberryPi with webserver on the raspberryPi and ADC, DAC PMOD
Support more ADC and DAC circuits and PMODs

2023 11 12 EEBench Installation Prof. Dr. Joerg Vollrath