The goal of this lab is to build a complete seven-segment display driver, which will allow you to utilize the display in any future projects or labs. You will also test the driver using a simple up/down/load counter.
Part 1 (Rudimentary seven-segment display driver – revisited)
You built a rudimentary seven-segment display driver (first_sseg_driver) in lab 3. The driver generates all necessary control signals (i.e. sseg, AN, DP). It displays a 4-bit number (num) on a digit specified by (active_digit). You also tested this driver by connecting it to an external 3-bit signal X then changing that signal to display the sequence (0, 1, 2,…7).
Modify the application (first_sseg_driver_test) so that X is automatically generated by a 3-bit counter. The counter should utilize the 100 MHz clock available on the FPGA board; however, it should change its count at a slower frequency. The count frequency can be specified by a timer, Figure 1 shows a circuit that will allow you to implement this functionality.
- Search for a timer value (interval) that will allow you to see all generated numbers on all seven-segment digits simultaneously.
- Remember the value. You will use it for the complete seven-segment driver in Part 2.
- Use either of the provided timer modules (timer_input or timer_parameter)
for the timer
- Use the up/down/load counter provided (udl_counter) for the 3-bit counter.
Figure 1: Timer-controlled Counter
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Part 2 (Complete seven-segment display driver)
The technique used in part 1 is called time-multiplexed display. In this part you will use this technique to build a complete seven-segment driver with the following specifications:
- The driver accepts 8 inputs/numbers that can be displayed on each of the available seven-segment digits
- The size of each of the inputs I should be 6-bits.
o I[0] should be used to specify the status of the decimal point o I[4:1] should be used for the actual HEX number
o I[5] should be used to enable/disable the digit - The driver utilizes a 100 MHz clock
- The driver should generate all necessary control signals (i.e. sseg, AN, DP)
Figure 2 shows a possible implementation of a complete seven-segment display driver. Use the provided starter code to write a Verilog module (sseg_driver) that describes the whole system.Figure 2: Time-multiplexed display driver
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Part 3 (Display the content of an up/down/load counter)
Use the driver from part 2 to display the content of an up/down/load counter. The system should have the following specifications:
- Your top file should be called counter_application.v
- The counter range should be (at least) between 0 and 255.
- The counter functionality should be controlled as follows:
o Up push button to count up
o Down push button to count down
o Middle push button to load a number specified by the switches o CPU reset push button to reset the counter to 0 - You might want to use button.v with the different push buttons
- You might find bin2bcd (from lab 2) useful
