Summary of miniSpartan6, another Spartan 6 Kit
The miniSpartan6 is an open-source FPGA starter kit featuring a Xilinx Spartan 6 LX9 chip, designed to combine the breadboard-friendly nature of XuLA2 with the feature-rich capabilities of Papilio Pro. It includes onboard JTAG programming via FTDI, SDRAM, SPI Flash, USB connectivity, and direct access to LEDs and switches, allowing beginners to start projects immediately without external shields or wiring.
Parts used in the miniSpartan6:
- Spartan 6 LX9 chip
- FT2232D from FTDI
- SDRAM of 32 MByte
- SPI Flash of 8 MBit
- 36 I/O lines
- USB to UART link
- USB JTAG on board
- 8 LEDS connected to the FPGA
- 4 DIP switches connected to the FPGA
miniSpartan6 is an Opens Source FPGA starter kit that I designed and built based on other open source kits such as Papilio Pro and XuLA2.
It is designed around Spartan 6 chip from Xilinx and it has on board JTAG programmer based on FT2232D from FTDI.
Features:
- Spartan 6 LX9
- SDRAM of 32 MByte
- SPI Flash of 8 MBit
- 36 I/O
- USB to UART link
- USB JTAG on board
- 8 LEDS connected to the FPGA
- 4 DIP switches connected to the FPGA
The board size is 1.6″ x 2.9″.
The miniSpartan6 is built to combine the advantages of both Papilio Pro and XuLA2. It is breadboard friendly like XuLA2 and it has the features of Papilio Pro. In addition, it has on board LEDs and switches. This will help beginners immediately start their first projects without any need for shields or wires.
For more detail: miniSpartan6, another Spartan 6 Kit
- What is the miniSpartan6?
It is an open source FPGA starter kit designed around a Spartan 6 chip. - Which FPGA chip does the board use?
The board is designed around the Spartan 6 LX9 chip from Xilinx. - Does the board have an onboard programmer?
Yes, it has an on board JTAG programmer based on FT2232D from FTDI. - How much SDRAM is included on the board?
The board features 32 MByte of SDRAM. - Can beginners use this board for their first projects?
Yes, it helps beginners start immediately because it has onboard LEDs and switches without needing shields or wires. - What makes the miniSpartan6 unique compared to other kits?
It combines the advantages of Papilio Pro and XuLA2, being breadboard friendly while having onboard peripherals. - How many DIP switches are connected to the FPGA?
There are 4 DIP switches connected directly to the FPGA. - Is the board size suitable for breadboarding?
Yes, the board size is 1.6″ x 2.9″ and it is built to be breadboard friendly.
