Numato Lab Mimas A7 Mini FPGA Development Board
Introduction
(https://numato.com/help/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mimas_A?_Mini.png) Mimas A7 Mini is an easy to use FPGA Development board featuring Artix 7 FPGA (XC7A35T – FTG256C package) with FTDl’s FT2232H Dual-Channel USB device. It is a Artix-7 based replacement and upgrade of Mimas Spartan 6 FPGA Board (https://numato.com/product/mimasspartan-6-fpga-development-board). It is specially designed for the development and integration of FPGA based accelerated features to other designs. The USB 2.0 host interface based on the popular FT2232H offers high bandwidth data transfer and board programming without the need for any external programming adapters.
https://numato.com/docs/mimas-a7-mini-fpga-development-board/
Boa rd Features
- Device: Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA (XC7 A35T-1 FTG256C)
- DDR3: 2Gb DDR3 (MT41J128M16JT-125 or equivalent)
- Built-in programming interface. No expensive JTAG adapters are needed for programming the board
- Onboard 128Mb flash memory for FPGA configuration storage and custom user data storage
- High-Speed USB 2.0 interface for On-board flash programming. FT2232H Channel B is dedicated for JTAG Programming. Channel A can be used for custom applications.
- 100MHz CMOS oscillator
- 8 LEDs, 1 RGB LED and 4 Push Buttons for user-defined purposes
- FPGA configuration via JTAG and USB
- Maximum IOs for user-defined purposes o FPGA- 70 IOs (35 professionally length matched Differential Pairs) and two 2×6 Expansion Headers
Applications
- Product Prototype Development
- Accelerated computing integration
- Development and testing of custom embedded processors
- Communication devices development
- Educational tool for Schools and Universities
How to use Mimas A7 Mini FPGA Development Board
The following sections describe in detail how to use this module.
Hardware Accessories Required
For easy and fast installation, you may need the following items along with the Mimas A? Mini module.
- USB A to USB B Micro cable
- DC Power supply
- A Xilinx Platform Cable USB II compatible JTAG programmer
Connection Diagram
The following connection diagram should be used for reference only. The schematics are available at the end of this document for detailed information.
USB Interface
The onboard full speed USB controller helps a PC/Linux/Mac computer to communicate with this module. (https://numato.com/help/wpcontent/uploads/2019/05/USB_MicroB.png)Use a USB A to USB B Micro cable to connect with a PC (the picture on the right shows USB B Micro connector). 
External Power Supply
The board can be configured to use power from External power supply by connecting it to the External +SV supply. Please refer to the marking on the board for more details (https://numato.com/help/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/external_Sv.png)(the picture on the right shows External +SV supply connector). 
JTAG Connector
JTAG connector allows the FPGA’s JTAG registers to be accessed using a JTAG cable, compatible with Xilinx Platform Cable USB. Use this header (P2), to attach JTAG cable for programming and debugging. 
LEDs, RGB LED and Push Button
Mimas A7 Mini Development Board has four push-button switches, one RGB LED and eight LEDs for human interaction. All switches are directly connected to Artix 7 FPGA and can be used in your design with minimal effort. 
GPIOs
This device is equipped with a maximum of 70 user 10 pins that can be used for various custom applications. All user IOs are length-matched and can be used as differential pairs.
Header P4
Version 2.0:
Version 4.0: 
Header PS Version 2.0: 
Version 4.0: 
Header P7 (2×6 Expansion Header)
Header P10 (2×6 Expansion Header)
FT2232H – Artix-7 (FTG256) FPGA Connection Details
Driver Installation
Windows
This product requires a driver to be installed for proper functioning when used with Windows. The Numato Lab Mimas A7 Mini driver can be downloaded from here (https://numato.com/wp content/uploads/2021/06/NumatoLabFPGADrivers.zip). When the driver installation is complete, the module should appear in FT _Prog Tool as Mi mas A7 Mini FPGA Development Board.
Linux
The Linux ships with the drivers required for the Mimas A7 Mini. It should be enough to run the following two commands in the terminal:
- sudo modprobe ftdi_sio
- echo 2a19 100e > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/ftdi_sio/new_id
Generating Bitstream for Mi mas A7 Mini
The bitstream can be generated for Mimas A7 Mini in Vivado by following the steps below:
Step 1: It is recommended to generate a .bin file along with a .bit file. Right-click on “Generate Bitstream” under the “Program and Debug” section of the Flow Navigator window and click “Bitstream Settings”.
Step 2: Select “-bin_file” option in the dialog window and click “Apply” and then “OK”.
Step 3: Finally click “Generate Bitstream”.
Configuring Mimas A7 Mini Module
Configuring Mimas A7 Mini Module UsingJTAG
Mimas A7 Mini -Artix-7 Development Board features an onboard JTAG connector that facilitates easy reprogramming of SRAM and onboard SPI flash through JTAG programmers like “Xilinx Platform Cable USB”. Programming Mimas A7 Mini using JTAG requires “Xilinx Vivado Hardware Manager” software which is bundled with Xilinx Vivado Design Suite. To program the SPI flash we need a “.mcs/.bin” file that needs to be generated from the “.bit” file. The steps for generating the “.mcs/.bin” file are as below. Programming FPGA SRAM does not require a “.mcs/.bin” file to be generated.
Generating Memory Configuration File for Mimas A7 Mini using Vivado
The screenshots shown in the following steps are captured from the Vivado Design Suite 2018.2.
Step 1: Open Xilinx Vivado Hardware Manager. Connect the board, and click “Generate Memory Configuration File …. ” from the “Tools” menu. The “Write Memory Configuration File” pop-up window will open. 
(https://numato.com/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mimasA7_ivado_generate_mes1.png)
Step 2: Select the ‘Format’ and Configuration Memory Part as shown below. Choose the format as MCS/BIN/HEX depending on your requirements. Now, click “OK”.
Step 3: Browse to the path where you wish to save the Configuration File and type the file name as “sample.bin” (or any name as per your wish/requirement) to save the memory configuration file (the format of the file may change depending on your “Format”). Select the “Load bitstream files” under the “Options” tab and browse to the “.bit” file we already generated then click “OK” to generate the memory configuration file.
Programming QSPI Flash using Vivado
A .bin or .mes file is required for programming Mimas A? Mini’s onboard QSPI flash.
Step 1: Open the Vivado project and open the target by clicking on the “Open Target” in “Open Hardware Manager” in the “Program and Debug” section of the Flow Navigator window. Select “Auto Connect”.
Step 2: If the device is detected successfully, it will be displayed as shown in the image below. To add Configuration Memory Device, right-click on the target device “xc7a35t_0” and select “Add Configuration Memory Device” as shown below.
(https://numato.com/help/wpcontent/uploads/2019/05/addmemconfig.png)
Step 3: Select the memory device “mt25ql128-spi-x1_x2_x4 (which is equivalent to n25q128-3.3vspi-x1_x2_x4)”, then click OK. 
Step 4: After completion of Step 3 the following dialog box will open. Click OK. 
Step 5: Browse to the working .bin file or the .mes file (whichever is applicable) and click OK to program as shown below. If programming is successful, a confirmation message will be displayed. 
Programming FPGA using Vivado
Mimas A7 Mini -Artix-7 FPGA Development Board features an onboard JTAG connector that facilitates easy reprogramming of SRAM and onboard SPI flash through JTAG programmer like “Xilinx Platform cable USB”. The following steps illustrate how to program FPGA on Mimas A7 Mini using JTAG.
Step 1: By using JTAG cable, connect the Xilinx platform cable USB to the Mimas A7 Mini and power it up.
Step 2: Open the Vivado project and open the target by clicking on the “Open Target” in “Open Hardware Manager” in the “Program and Debug” section of the Flow Navigator window. Select “Auto Connect”.
Step 3: If the device is detected successfully, to program the device, right-click on the target device “xc7a35t_0” and select “Program Device” as shown below. 
Step 4: In the dialog window which opens up, Vivado automatically chooses the correct bitstream file if the design was synthesized, and implemented and if the bitstream was generated successfully. If needed, browse to the bitstream which needs to be programmed to FPGA. Finally, click on “Program”. 
Programming Mimas A7 Mini Using Tenagra 
For steps on how to program Mimas A? Mini using Tenagra, refer the Getting started with Tenagra FPGA System Management Software (https://numato.com/kb/getting-started-with-tenagra-fpgasystemmanagement-software/) article. 
- All parameters considered nominal. Numato Systems Pvt Ltd reserves the right to modify products without notice.
Physical Dimensions 
Vivado XDC Constraints
Mimas A7 Mini XDC Constraints for Vivado (https://numato.com/download/mimas-a7-mini-xdcconstraints/)
Schematics
Version 2.0: Mimas A7 Mini Schematics (https://numato.com/help/wpcontent/uploads/2019/07/mimasa?_mini_board_Sch.pdf)
Version 5.0: Mimas A7 Mini Schematics (https://numato.com/help/wpcontenUuploads/2023/07/mimas-a7-mini-board_V5.0_Sch.pdf)
Mimas A7 Mini GPIO Easy Reference
- Version 2.0: Mimas A7 Mini GPIO Easy Reference (https://numato.com/help/wpcontenUuploads/2019/05/MimasA7MiniGPIOEasyReference.pdf)
- Version 4.0: Mimas A7 Mini GPIO Easy Reference (https://numato.com/help/wpcontenUuploads/2019/05/MimasA7MiniGPIOEasyReferenceV4.0.pdf)
- Help Guide Powered by Documenter (https://documentor.in/?utm_source=plugin&utm_medium=footer&utm_campaign=powered-by)
Documents / Resources
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Numato Lab Mimas A7 Mini FPGA Development Board [pdf] Instructions Mimas A7 Mini FPGA Development Board, Mini FPGA Development Board, Development Board, Board |