UART Communication

UART is a universal serial communication protocol that transmits data serially between systems. It is an interface that sends out usually a byte at a time. This interface is a simple way to connect an FPGA to a PC. We just need a transmitter and receiver module. The transmitter is essentially a special shift register that loads data in parallel and then shifts it out bit by bit at a specific rate. The receiver, on the other hand, shifts in data bit by bit and then reassembles the data.

Building on macOS

1. Icarus-Verilog can be installed via Homebrew : $ brew install icarus-verilog

2. Download Scansion from here.

3. Clone the repository.

4. Run $ make and type MIPS code to see it in binary form in rams_init_file.hex file.

5. $ make simulate will:

• compile design+TB
• simulate the verilog design

6. $ make display will:

• display waveforms.

Links

1. Design and Verification of UART using System Verilog
2. FPGA Prototyping by Verilog Examples (UART)