Lab #0   Altera MaxPlus2 Installation and Use Tutorial
TOC:

Objective:

To Do:

MaxPlus under Unix

TIPS on Simulation

 

Objective:

The objective of this lab is to become familiar with the basic capabilities of  the Altera Maxplus2 toolset.

To Do:

The textbook for this class (also the required text for ECE 3714, Digital Devices, the prerequisite for this course) contains a tutorial that will help you in installing (if you wish to do so on your personal computer) and in becoming familiar with the capabilities of the Altera Maxplus2 toolset.  You are to go through this tutorial beginning with section B1 on page 740.  You should complete sections B2, B3, B5 and C1.  The remaining portions of the tutorial are optional and you may do those if you wish. You should demonstrate that each design and simulation in the tutorial works properly by showing them to the TA.  You may do your work ahead of time and bring a diskette with the project files to your lab section for demonstration to the TA if you wish.

Tips On Simulation, Waveform Editing

  1. To create a new waveform window, use File -> New -> Waveform editor file
  2. To insert a node ( a waveform) , RIGHT CLICK and do Insert Node. If your waveform editor file is named the same as the graphic file, then you can use the 'List' button to list all available nodes and choose one.
  3. To change the value of portion of the waveform, click and drag on the portion of the waveform to change - then click on either the '1' or '0' button along the left hand side to change this portion to a 1 or 0.
  4. To set the END TIME of the simulation waveform, make sure the waveform window is selected, then use File -> End Time to set the ending time.
  5. To insert a clock waveform, select the signal, RIGHT CLICK, and overwrite with a clock. The clock PERIOD is determined by the 2X the grid spacing -- use Options -> Grid Size to set the grid size. When using the OVERWRITE command to set the clock, you will be able to specify a multiplier to multiply the clock period by.
  6. To change a value of bus, click and drag a portion of the waveform and click on the 'G' menu button on the left edge (change a group value). You will be able to type in a value for the bus.
  7. To execute the simulator, do File -> Project -> Save & Simulator or click on the button with the waveform in the display. This will bring up a Simulator window. Use the 'Open SCF' button to bring your waveform window to the front. Then click on 'Start' to start the simulation.
  8. Output signals like DOUT do not have to be edited by you. You must add these nodes to the waveform window, but their values will be updated when you run the simulator.

 

MaxPlus under Unix

To run maxplus under Unix do:

% swsetup altera

% max2win

 

This will bring up the maxplus window. The first time this is done, a font cache will be built and this takes time. The next time you run max2win, it should not have to build this font cache.

You should probably create separate directories for each lab.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER IN THE LAB:

1. Include the screen capture to show the window used to select the chip EPF10K10TC144 of the speed grade 3. Please label the Device family, device and speed grade of this required chip.

Ans:

 

2. What is the use of the report file? You should be able to generate a new report file and explain it to your TA if he asks you to do so.

3. Name the different types of design entry methods. Which one of these is the best method? Justify your answer.

Note: You should demonstrate that each design and simulation in the tutorial works properly by showing them to the TA.