Trenz Electronic GmbH TE0887-04-M — icoBoard Version 1.1 with 8 Mbit SRAM

TE0887-04-M - icoBoard Version 1.1 with 8 Mbit SRAM

Lattice FPGA with 8k LUT, 100 MHz max. clock, 8 Mbit of SRAM and programmable in Verilog by a complete open source FPGA toolchain

Technical Specifications

Key Features

The predecessor of this article is TE0887-03M. All changes are in the Product Change Notification (PCN).

icoBoard

The icoBoard contains a Lattice FPGA with 8k LUT, 100 MHz max. clock, 8 Mbit of SRAM and is programmable in Verilog by a complete open source FPGA toolchain.
The icoBoard is pin-compatible with the Raspberry Pi 2B, newer versions and any board using the same pinout. Bitstreams for programming the FPGA can directly be generated on the Raspberry Pi.

Not compatible with Raspberry Pi 5!
The ICE40 FPGA is a cheap FPGA without special hardware blocks like multipliers or SerDes or SDRAM interfaces. With its 8k LUT he is one of the smaller FPGAs, but large enough to hold significant projects like a complete Risc-V 32 bit SoC.
The icoBoard is a perfect learning tool to get the feet wet with logic circuit design in Verilog without having to do the heavy lifting of the professional huge programming tools from Xilinx or Altera.
When Professors want to introduce their students to Verilog, it is much easier for them to hand out the open source toolchain directly than to ask students to register with a manufacturer to get a student license and to install from the manufacturer several GByte.

The reference design is bundled with a FREE evaluation edition of the low-cost, commercially proven, high performance memory controller IP supplied by Synaptic Laboratories Ltd (SLL). This free IP evaluation license never expires, and no customer registration or NIC ID is required.
Click here to find the latest free trials of SLL's memory controller IP for HyperBus, OctaBus, Xccela Bus, JEDEC xSPI Profile 1.0 and JEDEC xSPI Profile 2.0 for Intel, Microchip, and AMD/Xilinx FPGA. SLL IP is also qualified for use with Trenz Electronic HS CRUVI enabled boards. Please send all sales enquiry and technical support questions for SLL's IP to info@synaptic-labs.com.

The Pmod connectors make it very easy to work with a wide variety of sensors and interfaces. A selection of Pmod sensors can be found at https://shop.trenz-electronic.de/en/Products/Digilent/Peripheral-Modules/.
To load the bitstream into the flash memory of the icoBoard, a Raspberry Pi is needed.

Key Features

• Lattice ICE40HX8k
• Supported by the open source toolchain icoTC consisting of Yosys, ArachnePnR, icestorm
• Mainly for learners and tinkerers
• 4 Pmod connectors with unbuffered 3.3 V interfaces
• 4 by 16 100mil I/O connectors
• 4 flatflex connectors with 36 3.3 I/O lines each
• 16-bit-wide 8 Mbit SRAM
• 8-bit-wide 64 Mbit HyperRAM
• 16 MByte SPI Flash memory for storing 4 bitstreams or data
• 3 programmable status LEDs, green
• 2 push buttons

If IcoBoard is connected to RaspberryPi, power is supplied by Raspberry Pi. If icoBoard is operated standalone, 5V power need to be provided to the power supply pins.

A working microSD card image for the RaspberryPi with all tools is available for download.

Not compatible with Raspberry Pi 5!

Getting started

Here is how you use the icoBoard with a RaspberryPi: http://icoboard.org/get-started-with-your-icoboard-and-a-raspi.html

Optional Accessories

Peripherie Module from Digilent
Pmod is Digilent's name for the line of over 60 peripheral modules that we offer to add extra functionality to both microcontrollers and FPGAs (field-programmable gate array). This functionality includes audio amplifiers, GPS receivers, USB to UART interface, seven-segment displays, accelerometers, H-bridges with input feedback, analog-to-digital converters, and much more.

Development Support

Latest documentation, design support files and reference designs with source files are available for download free of charge.

Scope of Delivery

• 1 x TE0887-04-M icoBoard with 8 Mbit SRAM

Additional Information

• Website icoboard.org
• Schematics in our download area or at Google Drive
• Support for the icoBoard is provided by a mailinglist

All modules produced by Trenz Electronic are developed and manufactured in Germany.

About Trenz Electronic

Trenz Electronic GmbH (Bielefeld, Germany) designs and manufactures FPGA and SoC modules, carrier boards, starter kits and evaluation platforms based on AMD/Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Microchip, Lattice and Cologne Chip devices. Specifications are sourced from the manufacturer's official product documentation and are subject to change without notice.

Ordering information

Part Number:  TE0887-04-M

Note: Pictures are for reference only; the actual product prevails. For pricing and lead time, please send an inquiry.