The HPPSI02 is a custom-designed board that integrates 24 AD7991 ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) modules, each providing 4 channels, for a total of 96 ADC channels. These ADCs communicate via the I2C protocol. To optimize the sampling speed, the board is designed to allow an FPGA to control all 24 AD7991 modules using 24 independent I2C blocks, enabling asynchronous communication and faster sampling rates.
The board is also built to be compatible with the Cora Z7 FPGA development board from Xilinx, allowing it to be stacked directly on top. The FPGA is programmed using VIVADO, Xilinx’s development environment, to manage the I2C communication and efficiently handle the data acquisition from all ADC channels. This design enables high-speed data collection and processing, ideal for applications requiring numerous analog input channels and fast sampling.
My role in the development of the HPPSI02 board involved the complete design process, from creating the schematic and PCB layout to sourcing components and placing orders with the PCB manufacturer. I oversaw the assembly, testing, and validation of the board to ensure its functionality. Additionally, I developed the entire HDL code for the FPGA in VHDL, handling the communication between the 24 AD7991 ADC modules and the FPGA. This included ensuring efficient data acquisition via I2C and optimizing the system for high-speed sampling.