Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Platform Designer

ID 683609
Date 12/20/2023
Public

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1.4. Using the Board-Aware Flow in Platform Designer

Platform Designer allows you to create a system that targets a specific development board, rather than only targeting a specific FPGA device. When you target a specific development board, Platform Designer is aware of the target board (board-aware) which simplifies the IP parameterization, pin assignments, and exporting interfaces for the system.

The board-aware flow accelerates the process of appropriately configuring, connecting, and validating IP for the target board by using IP presets together with a board definition file that specifies the details of a target board. You can use (and reuse) the board definition file and IP presets to automatically include the appropriate IP pin assignments, parameters, and exported interfaces for the target development board during system generation.

To use the board definition file and IP presets together, you first specify the board information in a board file (_board.xml), and then apply IP presets that are appropriate for the specific development board. IP preset files specify the list of valid parameters and pin assignments that are appropriate for your target board of choice. You can also define your own custom IP presets and board files. When you generate the IP or system using this board-aware flow, Platform Designer performs the following. Refer to Creating IP Presets Targeting Specific Boards for details.

  • Presets appropriate IP parameters for the target board.
  • Exports pin assignment to a .qip file read during design compilation.
  • Exports the appropriate interfaces for the board.

In the FPGA system design flow, different engineers often handle specific steps of development. For example, a board engineer often creates the board definition file. An IP designer may create the board presets for specific IP. A system designer can use the board file and IP presets to perform design entry. At each stage, you can share the board file and IP presets to reduce any chance of configuration errors from hand-off between developers or projects.

Figure 6. Board-Aware Flow Typical Tasks and Roles


The board-aware flow helps to ensure the proper hand-off, consistency, and reuse of configuration options across multiple projects, developers, and boards.