09-16-2015 09:27 AM
Solved! Go to Solution.
09-16-2015 09:37 AM - edited 09-16-2015 09:39 AM
Hi Cross,
there are several "Idea Exchange" forums available!
Your idea would fit into the FPGA Idea Exchange, I guess…
09-16-2015 09:57 AM
You should post this on the FPGA Ideas Exchange, not the forums.
What custom type are you using on the FPGA? Using things like clusters takes up additional resources, arrays have to fixed sizes on most targets and most things can be converted to native types to be transferred using a FIFO. There are also lots of caveats around things like front panel controls (e.g. size/limitations of front panel objects etc.) to be aware of.
Remember that an FPGA is essentially compiled down to an electronic hardware circuit - it's not a microprocessor!
Have you done/had a look at some of the FPGA training materials? I think they go a long way to help understand the limitations of FPGA programming!
09-16-2015 10:48 AM - edited 09-16-2015 10:50 AM
@GerdW
"Your idea would fit into the FPGA Idea Exchange"
Thanks. Didn't know about these. Transfer this there and use it in the future.
@Sam_Sharp
"Remember that an FPGA is essentially compiled down to an electronic hardware circuit - it's not a microprocessor!"
I fully understand all of this. But... if I have complex data structures that needs to go to the FPGA and I follow rules of having fixed sized arrays then it would be reasonable to provide a mechanism to DMA such a custom type down to the FPGA. Breaking up the custom data type so I can manually flatten it into primitive types is not practical in my situation. I'm dealing with large amounts of parameters. It would be error prone, very costly from a labor perspective and unnecessary code bloat.
09-16-2015 10:56 AM
You didn't answer my question - what is the custom data type you are using/trying to use? Do you have an example?
09-16-2015 11:01 AM
There is an existing idea for this. Please Kudo it if you would like to see this!
09-16-2015 11:09 AM
A handful of fixed sized arrays (currently 6 array with 12 elements each). Each array has a custom type composed of a cluster of FXP scalars (restriction imposed by IP Builder). Most of the FXP scalars of defined as <s42,21> right now but that will likely change.