Embedded Configuration Block Overview

Use the Embedded Configuration Block (ECB) instrument design library to store multiple hardware configurations in onboard memory and recall them from the FPGA.

Storing multiple hardware configurations in onboard memory and recalling them from the FPGA allows the FPGA to reconfigure the hardware without intervention from the host. Use the host VIs to create a set of hardware configurations and download them to memory. Then, use the FPGA VIs to recall the hardware configurations necessary for your application.

Using the Embedded Configuration Block

The ECB works in conjunction with the Register Bus and Configuration instrument design libraries to configure the hardware.

  1. Use the Configuration instrument design library host VIs to create a register sequence for each hardware configuration you want to use in your application.

    A register sequence is a set of register writes that correspond to a hardware configuration.

  2. Use the ECB Write Register Sequence VI on the host to download the register sequences to onboard memory.

    You can use either onboard DRAM or SRAM to store register sequences. The main difference between the two is the amount of memory available. DRAM is typically available in larger amounts than SRAM, but unless your application requires a very large number of hardware configurations, either memory type should contain enough space to store all register sequences.

    NI recommends using SRAM when your application uses DRAM for other purposes, such as waveform storage, to avoid the sharing of DRAM bandwidth between DRAM partitions.

  3. In the FPGA, use the Request Register Sequence and Retrieve Register Sequence VIs to apply the configuration to hardware.

Refer to the context help of the ECB LabVIEW VIs for more detailed information about the library interface.