MATLAB: Get data from AD (parallel), is possible

Question

Hi. I'm new to matlab. I'm a hobbyst, not a company or anything like this. I brought MATLAB personal with some modules and I'll use to learn FPGA with ZedBoard + AD9361. I know that this board (both) are supported by simulink and I'll test/learn using simulink and block-design. My plan is to make an FM transmitter (for start) when my boards arrive (already brought, still waiting delivery). After that, my plan is to make an receiver and then, do the same receiver, but using another frontend (including ADC). So my question is: imagine that I have plugged in another ADC into my ZedBoard (let's say AD9226), is possible to read this ADC in simulink, like AD9361 does? If yes, how? Where can I find any article or tutorial about this?

Even further: if I want to generate HDL code in the future (using HDL Coder), how can I integrate this 'custom' AD for code generation?

PS: I know that I can't buy HDL Coder for personal. My plan is to use trial for testing, since I'm using just for learning.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Jonis - To start, the Communications Toolbox™ Support Package for Xilinx® Zynq®-Based Radio supports the ZedBoard+AD-FMComms2/3/4 hardware combination for both Radio I/O and Targeting. We have a streaming FM Receiver example that can likely be adapted to that platform (try replacing the ADALM-PLUTO receive System object with the AD936x receiver).

To use other converters with ZedBoard, there are several parts to the equation - the HDL for the Zynq programmable logic to physically build the connection between the devices, the Linux drivers running on the Zynq processing system to control the converter, and a Vivado reference design to tell HDL Coder what the hardware looks like. Is the converter you want to use available on a standard FMC, or PMOD card for evaluation?

Analog Devices has built a library of HDL refernce designs for Xilinx devices available on their Wiki. Also on their Wiki are a variety of Linux drivers for many of their products. If they don't have interface, or driver code, for the partiuclar device you want to use, their Engineer Zone community (either the FPGA Reference Design, or Linux Software Driver forums) should be able to generate a solution. Information on how to build a custom reference design for HDL Coder can be found in the MathWorks examples.

MATLAB and Simulink support for other ADI converters can also be found in their High Speed Converter Toolbox.