JColvin

Hi @NAOUZ, Unfortunately, Digilent does not have a version of the Nexys A7 that is able to be powered over both USB as well as being able to accept an external power supply in the 7 Vto 15 V range. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @Mohammad Alsmadi, I have zero experience with neural networks and don't know what kind of neural network you are thinking of (it sounds like some version of a PID controller), but I suppose in theory if you trained the neural network elsewhere and then fit it within into the Linux image for the ADP3450 and set up to either: - access either the WaveForms SDK API functions directly - access some script that separately runs the WaveForms SDK then feeds the received buffer data to the network and then in turn adjusts some parameter through the SDK API - read a saved file containing pre-recorded data then it could presumably work. The ADP3450 only has 512 MB of DDR RAM, so you'll probably be limited in the amount of processing you can do while also running the Linux OS and whatnot. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @digility, A hub will only become a problem if the USB traffic back to the host computer (whether that's UART or JTAG or your keyboard/mouse or whatever) becomes congested and you end up losing samples (or if your hub cannot provide sufficient power to all of the connected devices). A lot of computer motherboards have internal USB hubs for their multiple USB ports (albeit potentially with controllers for each connection depending on the setup). I have two USB hubs (out of necessity) for the collection of Digilent devices that I have at my work station. If I know that I am going to be streaming a lot of data at a rate that can't afford to have dropped packets (or that is going to saturate the bandwidth of the hubs connection back to the host computer), I'll just make sure that I let that device have a direct connection to the host computer so it is not competing with other devices for bandwidth. But using a device with a USB 2.0 connection, a keyboard, and a mouse on some hub should realistically not be a problem, as keyboards and mice are pretty "light weight". I don't quite understand your use case of communicating with the FPGA over UART while also configuring the FPGA as that would reset the entire FPGA (unless you're doing partial reconfiguration that doesn't touch the UART portion?) Thanks, JColvin

Hi @rain, I have split your post off into a new topic. You could just use some sort of external module, be it a Pmod SWT or something else, as a replacement option for the collection of on-board switches, but there are a few catches with this method. One is that you will inevitably lose out on total available pins that are available to the user. This might not always be an issue if a design doesn't use all of the general purpose input/output pins, but it feels like kicking the problem further down the road. The second is .xdc file (file that tells the Xilinx software which ports in a design are connected to what physical pin on the FPGA) that Digilent provides will no longer be correct. While you can certainly edit the .xdc file to instead say that all (or just a select few) of the switches are instead attached to some other FPGA pin that goes to a Pmod port (and sets up a good habit of checking and becoming familiar with the .xdc file), this can become a hassle to have to correct every time, especially if the external switches move to different Pmod ports and it is a different collection of switches on the Nexys that are being exchanged out. It's been a few years since I've had to do any soldering and I wasn't an expert by any stretch of the imagination, so take this next bit with a grain of salt: I do not know which Nexys board you are using (Nexys A7, Nexys Video, etc.) nor do I know your set up or if you are just replacing the slide switches for different ones or with entirely different I/O devices or whatever, but I would probably look to get some sort of clamp stand (maybe even one designed to hold up an iPad rather than just alligator clips) to hold the board up on its side so that I could heat the underside of the through hole contacts with a soldering iron and pull out the switches with some sort of needle nose pliers. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @ericnstein, I have sent you a PM. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @rpatel, For the SMT4, I have been informed that the worst case for Vdd is 115 mA and the typical usage is 90 mA with JTAG running at max speed and UART running at 1 MBaud. The Vref current at 30 MHz is 12.5 mA typical and 35 mA max (unless you short the outputs, then Vref would probably peak out around 170 mA). You didn't ask about minimums, but when the USB controller is held in reset, the current consumption is ~20 mA. When it comes out of reset and enumerates on the bus it's ~87.5 mA. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @Kevin.C, 3.22.19 is an "official" beta build (https://forum.digilent.com/topic/8908-waveforms-beta-download/) as opposed to a formal release (though the difference between a beta build and a formal release mostly boils down to the amount of documentation involved along extra hunting for bugs). I do not anticipate a formal release version to be made for at least a couple of months; it depends when a new Digilent Test and Measurement device comes out, but I have not seen any announcements as of yet. I will make a note to ping you once a release version has been made. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @rpatel, I received confirmation from the design engineer that all of the needed decoupling is built into the SMT4 module, so you will not need to implement anything extra for that. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @VictorV, I wanted to let you know that we have reproduced this issue and have reached out internally to get some additional information about this. Thanks, JColvin

Glad it worked. I recall that I also had to use a fair amount of force the first couple of times for my Analog Discovery 3 device, but it stopped being an issue after about 5 or so cycles. For what it's worth, after about a year of use and constant switching between different MTE cable sets and adapters (i.e. regular use for a support day job), I have no concerns about the cable coming loose, even on "intentional accident". Thanks, JColvin

Hi @yassine, It doesn't look like you've pushed the cable in far enough. The whole section with divots should be covered by the device, so that the (poorly drawn) red line is flush with the front face of the AD3. You'll end up bumping into the plastic that I mentioned once it goes in all the way. This photo of the AD2 shows the main idea of what I've trying to explain by the shield/flashing and how far back it is compared to the front face of the device (the 2x15 connector used in the Analog Discovery 2 is identical to the one used in the Analog Discovery 3). Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @gibby, I'm not certain what radiated emissions you have in mind, but the MTE flywires themselves can act a bit like antennas but you'll then run into bandwidth limitations (depending of course what frequency range you're looking for). Using the BNC Adapter (or a device built with BNCs and high bandwidth, https://digilent.com/reference/test-and-measurement/analog-discovery-pro-5250/fm-radio) might end up getting you some better results. You may find this Forum thread from a number of years back of interest: Let me know if you have any questions or if I'm completely misunderstanding your question. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @yassine and @FabioG, You will need to ensure that the flywire assembly is fully inserted into the device; there is plastic "shielding/flashing" that the assembly should be pushed against (there is no concern about breaking the pins or something like that). I have attached a couple of photos to comparatively show how far the assembly should be connected. Basically, only half a centimeter of the housing should still be visible. Please let me know if you are still encountering issues. Thanks, JColvin P.S. my AD3 is a prototype which is why the outer shell will likely look different than yours

Hi @decal, The breadboard breakout (the one with the 2x15 DIP style pin set) can slot into any solderless breadboard. You'll of course then need to use a variety of jumper wires to connect the numbered row to the rest of your circuitry, much like it shows for the in-use photo on the Breadboard Breakout Resource Center. As for the Breadboard Adapter, the Large Solderless Breadboard will not physically sit on top of it. You could, of course, use jumper wires from the 2x15 female header to the large breadboard, much like you would do for the included half-size breadboard that does fit on top. As always, there is no electrical contact between solderless breadboards and the PCB because the solderless breadboards are, well, solderless. I couldn't find my Breadboard Breakout adapter or the formal Large Solderless Breadboard, but I've attached a picture showing the size discrepancy between the Breadboard Adapter, the half-size breadboard, and one of the Canvas's for the Analog Discovery Studio (which is a similar size to the Large Solderless Breadboard). Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin

Hi @Duh, You should be able drag each of the signal groups via the small rectangle on the left hand side next to each group. It's not particularly visible when compared to moving a browser tab but it should work: Logic_move_signals.mp4 I don't think you can readily change the order of things within a bus though (such as the chip select and clock within SPI), at least as far as I can tell. Maybe the WaveForms developer (not me) will consider that option for a future update. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, JColvin