ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit

Overview

The ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit is the next revision of Synopsys HSDK board. It includes a multicore ARC HS4xD-based chip that integrates a wide range of interfaces including Ethernet, HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, SDIO, I2C, SPI, UART, I2S, ADC, PWM and GPIO, as well as a Think Silicon GPU.

For details about the board, see: ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit (HSDK4xD)

Hardware

The ARC HSDK4xD has 24 general GPIOs, which divided into 8 groups named from GPIO_SEL_0 to GPIO_SEL_7. Each sel can configured for different functions, such as: GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C and PWM. We can program CREG_GPIO_MUX register to do configuration for each sel. Tables below show the bit definition for CREG_GPIO_MUX register and the details configuration for each pin.

Bit

Name

Access

Reset value

Description

2:0

GPIO_SEL_0

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[3:0]

5:3

GPIO_SEL_1

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[7:4]

8:6

GPIO_SEL_2

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[11:8]

11:9

GPIO_SEL_3

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[15:12]

14:12

GPIO_SEL_4

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[17:16]

17:15

GPIO_SEL_5

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[19:18]

20:18

GPIO_SEL_6

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[21:20]

23:21

GPIO_SEL_7

RW

0x0

GPIO mux select for gpio[23:22]

SELS

GPIO PINS

FUN0

FUN1

FUN2

FUN3

FUN4

FUN5

FUN6

FUN7

SEL0

0

gpio[0]

uart0_cts

spi1_cs[0]

gpio[0]

gpio[0]

pwm_ch[6]

pwm_ch[6]

pwm_ch[1]

1

gpio[1]

uart0_txd

spi1_mosi

gpio[1]

pwm_ch[0]

gpio[1]

pwm_ch[0]

pwm_ch[0]

2

gpio[2]

uart0_rxd

spi1 _miso

i2c1_scl

gpio[2]

gpio[2]

gpio[2]

gpio[2]

3

gpio[3]

uart0_rts

spi1_clk

i2c1_sda

gpio[3]

gpio[3]

gpio[3]

gpio[3]

SEL1

4

gpio[4]

uart1_cts

spi2_cs[0]

gpio[4]

gpio[4]

pwm_ch[4]

pwm_ch[4]

pwm_ch[3]

5

gpio[5]

uart1_txd

spi2_mosi

gpio[5]

pwm_ch[2]

gpio[5]

pwm_ch[2]

pwm_ch[2]

6

gpio[6]

uart1_rxd

spi2_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[6]

gpio[6]

gpio[6]

gpio[6]

7

gpio[7]

uart1_rts

spi2_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[7]

gpio[7]

gpio[7]

gpio[7]

SEL2

8

gpio[8]

uart2_cts

spi1_cs[1]

gpio[8]

gpio[8]

pwm_ch[2]

pwm_ch[2]

pwm_ch[5]

9

gpio[9]

uart2_txd

spi1_mosi

gpio[9]

pwm_ch[4]

gpio[9]

pwm_ch[4]

pwm_ch[4]

10

gpio[10]

uart2_rxd

spi1_miso

i2c1_scl

gpio[10]

gpio[10]

gpio[10]

gpio[10]

11

gpio[11]

uart2_rts

spi1_clk

i2c1_sda

gpio[11]

gpio[11]

gpio[11]

gpio[11]

SEL3

12

gpio[12]

uart0_cts

spi2_cs[1]

gpio[12]

gpio[12]

pwm_ch[0]

pwm_ch[0]

pwm_ch[7]

13

gpio[13]

uart0_txd

spi2_mosi

gpio[13]

pwm_ch[6]

gpio[13]

pwm_ch[6]

pwm_ch[6]

14

gpio[14]

uart0_rxd

spi2_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[14]

gpio[14]

gpio[14]

gpio[14]

15

gpio[15]

uart0_rts

spi2_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[15]

gpio[15]

gpio[15]

gpio[15]

SEL4

16

gpio[16]

uart1_txd

spi1_cs[2]

i2c1_scl

gpio[16]

pwm_fault_0

gpio[16]

pwm_fault_0

17

gpio[17]

uart1_rxd

spi1_mosi

i2c1_sda

pwm_ch[0]

pwm_ch[0]

pwm_ch[5]

pwm_ch[5]

SEL5

18

gpio[18]

uart2_txd

spi1_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[18]

gpio[18]

gpio[18]

gpio[18]

19

gpio[19]

uart2_rxd

spi1_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[19]

gpio[19]

gpio[19]

gpio[19]

SEL6

20

gpio[20]

uart0_txd

spi2_cs[2]

i2c1_scl

gpio[20]

pwm_fault_1

gpio[20]

pwm_fault_1

21

gpio[21]

uart0_rxd

spi2_mosi

i2c1_sda

pwm_ch[6]

pwm_ch[6]

pwm_ch[3]

pwm_ch[3]

SEL7

22

gpio[22]

uart2_txd

spi2_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

23

gpio[23]

uart2_rxd

spi2_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

Digilent Pmod

The ARC HSDK4xD features two 12-pin Pmod connectors Pmod_A and Pmod_B and one 6-pin Pmod connector Pmod_C. The functionality of the Pmod connectors is programmable and includes GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C and PWM. The location of the pins on the Pmod connectors is shown in Figure below. Detailed pin descriptions depending on the pin multiplexer settings are provided in the subsequent sections.

Pinout Diagram of the Pmod

Pmod_A Connector

Table below lists the pin assignment of valid protocols that can be multiplexed on the Pmod_A connector. The GPIO column is the default assignment after Reset.

Pin

GPIO

UART

SPI

I2C

PWM_1

PWM_2

A1

gpio[8]

uart2_cts

spi1_cs[1]

gpio[8]

gpio[8]

pwm_ch[2]

A2

gpio[9]

uart2_txd

spi1_mosi

gpio[9]

pwm_ch[4]

gpio[9]

A3

gpio[10]

uart2_rxd

spi1_miso

i2c1_scl

gpio[10]

gpio[10]

A4

gpio[11]

uart2_rts

spi1_clk

i2c1_sda

gpio[11]

gpio[11]

A5

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

A6

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

A7

gpio[20]

gpio[20]

gpio[20]

gpio[20]

gpio[20]

gpio[20]

A8

gpio[21]

gpio[21]

gpio[21]

gpio[21]

gpio[21]

gpio[21]

A9

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

A10

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

A11

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

A12

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

Pmod_B Connector

Table below lists the pin assignment of valid protocols that can be multiplexed on the Pmod_B connector. The GPIO column is the default assignment after Reset.

Pin

GPIO

UART

SPI

I2C

PWM_1

PWM_2

B1

gpio[12]

uart0_cts

spi2_cs[1]

gpio[12]

gpio[12]

pwm_ch[0]

B2

gpio[13]

uart0_txd

spi2_mosi

gpio[13]

pwm_ch[6]

gpio[13]

B3

gpio[14]

uart0_rxd

spi2_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[14]

gpio[14]

B4

gpio[15]

uart0_rts

spi2_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[15]

gpio[15]

B5

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

B6

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

B7

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

gpio[22]

B8

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

gpio[23]

B9

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

B10

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

n.c.

B11

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

B12

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

Pmod_C Connector

Table below lists the pin assignment of valid protocols that can be multiplexed on the Pmod_C connector. The GPIO column is the default assignment after Reset.

Pin

GPIO

UART

SPI

I2C

PWM

C1

gpio[16]

uart1_txd

spi1_cs[2]

i2c1_scl

gpio[16]

C2

gpio[17]

uart1_rxd

spi1_mosi

i2c1_sda

pwm_ch[0]

C3

gpio[18]

uart2_txd

spi1_miso

i2c2_scl

gpio[18]

C4

gpio[19]

uart2_rxd

spi1_clk

i2c2_sda

gpio[19]

C5

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

C6

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

3V3

Mikrobus

The ARC HSDK4xD features a set of MikroBUS headers. Figure below shows the relevant function assignments, fully compatible with the MikroBUS standard. Table below shows the pin assignment on the I/O Multiplexer.

mikrobus header

Pin

I/O

Pin

I/O

AN

ADC VIN6*

PWM

pwm_ch[0]

RST

GPX_Port0_bit1

INT

gpio[16]

CS

spi2_cs[1]

RX

uart2_rxd

SCK

spi2_clk

TX

uart2_txd

MISO

spi2_miso

SCL

i2c2_scl

MOSI

spi2_mosi

SDA

i2c2_sda

Note

ADC VIN6 is available through the on-board ADC and is read though SPI0 using SPI chip select 1.

Arduino

The ARC HSDK4xD provides an Arduino shield interface. Figure below shows the relevant function assignments. The Arduino shield interface is compatible with the Arduino UNO R3 with the following exceptions: 5 Volt shields are not supported, the IOREF voltage on the ARC HSDK4xD board is fixed to 3V3. Note that the ICSP header is also not available. Most shields do not require this ICSP header as the SPI master interface on this ICSP header is also available on the IO10 to IO13 pins.

arduino shield interface

Table below shows the pin assignment on the I/O Multiplexer. Multiplexing is controlled by software using the CREG_GPIO_MUX register (see Pinmux ). After a reset, all ports are configured as GPIO inputs.

Pin

I/O-1

I/O-2

I/O-3

AD0

ADC VIN0*

GPX_port0_bit2

AD1

ADC VIN1*

GPX_port0_bit3

AD2

ADC VIN2*

GPX_port0_bit4

AD3

ADC VIN3*

GPX_port0_bit5

AD4

ADC VIN4*

gpio[18]

i2c2_sda

AD5

ADC VIN5*

gpio[19]

i2c2_scl

IO0

gpio[23]

uart2_rxd

IO1

gpio[22]

uart2_txd

IO2

gpio[16]

IO3

gpio[17]

pwm_ch[5]

IO4

gpio[11]

IO5

gpio[9]

pwm_ch[4]

IO6

gpio[21]

pwm_ch[3]

IO7

gpio[20]

IO8

gpio[10]

IO9

gpio[8]

pwm_ch[2]

IO10

gpio[12]

pwm_ch[0]

spi2_cs[1]

IO11

gpio[13]

pwm_ch[6]

spi2_mosi

IO12

gpio[14]

spi2_miso

IO13

gpio[15]

spi2_clk

I/O expander

The ARC HSDK4xD board includes a CY8C9520A I/O expander from Cypress CY8C9520A. The I/O expander offers additional GPIO signals and board control signals and can be accessed through the on-board I2C bus, we have implemented a basic driver for it. Tables below shows an overview of relevant I/O signals.

Pins

Usage

port0_bit0

RS9113 Bluetooth I2S RX enable (active low)

port0_bit1

mikroBUS Reset (active low)

port0_bit2

GPIO for Arduino AD0

port0_bit3

GPIO for Arduino AD1

port0_bit4

GPIO for Arduino AD2

port0_bit5

GPIO for Arduino AD3

port1_bit4

On-board user LED0

port1_bit5

On-board user LED1

port1_bit6

On-board user LED2

port1_bit7

On-board user LED3

On-board user LEDS

The ARC HSDK4xD includes 4 user LEDs(active high), which can be controlled through the I/O expander pins.

LEDs

PINs

LED0

GPX_port1_bit4

LED1

GPX_port1_bit5

LED2

GPX_port1_bit6

LED3

GPX_port1_bit7

For hardware feature details, refer to : Designware HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit website.

Programming and Debugging

Required Hardware and Software

To use Zephyr RTOS applications on the HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit board, a few additional pieces of hardware are required.

  • A micro USB cable provides USB-JTAG debug and USB-UART communication to the board

  • A universal switching power adaptor (110-240V AC to 12V DC), provided in the package, provides power to the board.

  • The Zephyr SDK

  • Terminal emulator software for use with the USB-UART. Suggestion: Putty Website [2].

  • (optional) A collection of Pmods, Arduino modules, or Mikro modules. See Digilent Pmod Modules [1] or develop your custom interfaces to attach to the Pmod connector.

Set up the ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit

To run Zephyr application on ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit, you need to set up the board correctly.

  • Connect the digilent USB cable from your host to the board.

  • Connect the 12V DC power supply to your board

Set up Zephyr Software

Building Sample Applications

You can try many of the sample applications and demos. We’ll use Hello World, found in samples/hello_world as an example.

Configuring

You may need to write a prj.conf file if the sample doesn’t have one. Next, you can use the menuconfig rule to configure the target. By specifying hsdk4xd as the board configuration, you can select the ARC HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit board support for Zephyr.

# From the root of the zephyr repository
west build -b hsdk4xd samples/hello_world
west build -t menuconfig

Building

You can build an application in the usual way. Refer to Building an Application for more details. Here is an example for Hello World.

# From the root of the zephyr repository
west build -b hsdk4xd samples/hello_world

Connecting Serial Output

In the default configuration, Zephyr’s HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit images support serial output via the USB-UART on the board. To enable serial output:

  • Open a serial port emulator (i.e. on Linux minicom, putty, screen, etc)

  • Specify the tty driver name, for example, on Linux this may be /dev/ttyUSB0

  • Set the communication settings to:

Parameter

Value

Baud:

115200

Data:

8 bits

Parity:

None

Stopbits:

1

Debugging

Using the latest version of Zephyr SDK(>=0.15.2), you can debug and flash (run) HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit directly.

One option is to build and debug the application using the usual Zephyr build system commands.

west build -b hsdk4xd <my app>
west debug

At this point you can do your normal debug session. Set breakpoints and then c to continue into the program.

The other option is to launch a debug server, as follows.

west build -b hsdk4xd <my app>
west debugserver

Then connect to the debug server at the HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit from a second console, from the build directory containing the output zephyr.elf.

$ cd <my app>
$ $ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR/arc-zephyr-elf/arc-zephyr-elf-gdb zephyr.elf
(gdb) target remote localhost:3333
(gdb) load
(gdb) b main
(gdb) c

Flashing

If you just want to download the application to the HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit’s DDR and run, you can do so in the usual way.

west build -b hsdk4xd <my app>
west flash

This command still uses openocd and gdb to load the application elf file to HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit, but it will load the application and immediately run. If power is removed, the application will be lost since it wasn’t written to flash.

Most of the time you will not be flashing your program but will instead debug it using openocd and gdb. The program can be download via the USB cable into the code and data memories.

The HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit also supports flashing the Zephyr application with the U-Boot bootloader, a powerful and flexible tool for loading an executable from different sources and running it on the target platform.

The U-Boot implementation for the HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit was further extended with additional functionality that allows users to better manage the broad configurability of the HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit

When you are ready to deploy the program so that it boots up automatically on reset or power-up, you can follow the steps to place the program on SD card.

For details, see: Uboot-HS4x/HS4xD-Command-Reference

Supported peripheral

The following list indicates the state of HS4x/HS4xD Development Kit peripherals’ support

Peripheral

Support

ADC

No

Bluetooth

No

Ethernet

No

GPIO

No

GPU

No

HDMI

No

I2C

No

I2S

No

PWM

No

SDIO

No

SPI

No

UART

Yes

USB

No

WiFi

No

References