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This guide describes the steps necessary to setup the FPGA tools, python, nmigen and zadig drivers for the iCEBreaker-fpga development board on Windows 10.

Download the following software:

• git: https://git-scm.com/download/win
• open-tool-forge (fpga-toolchain-windows_amd64-nightly-xxxxxxxx.zip): https://github.com/open-tool-forge/fpga-toolchain/releases
• python (newest python v3 "Windows x86-64 executable installer"): https://www.python.org/downloads/release
• zadig drivers: https://zadig.akeo.ie/

Install the following in whichever order:

• git

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# The Vendor ID and Product ID seem to identify a particular chipset
# to target. I used the libftdi utilities and OS X USB Prober app to
# poke around and figure out what numbers to use.

vendor_id=0x403
product_id=0x6010

# The rest of the fields are settings which can be written to the
# FT2xx with the --flash-eeprom option.

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I have moved this list to my blog: https://esden.net/2020/05/11/my-streaming-setup-and-electronics-tools-collection/

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Section "Monitor"
	Identifier "SAMSUNG"
	ModelName "SAMSUNG"
	VendorName "SAM"
	# Monitor Manufactured week 2 of 2014
	# EDID version 1.3
	# Digital Display
	DisplaySize 1110 620
	Gamma 2.20
	Option "DPMS" "false"

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• https://twitter.com/Hacksterio/status/1161444922538496001?s=20
• https://twitter.com/esden/status/1160309492896215040?s=20
• https://twitter.com/NickySlicksHaha/status/1159891571296223232?s=20
• https://twitter.com/hackaday/status/1159267182267625472?s=20
• https://twitter.com/SophiKravitz/status/1159263766963347456?s=20
• https://twitter.com/dcuthbert/status/1158931559291842560?s=20
• https://twitter.com/dcuthbert/status/1158871194340192257?s=20
• https://twitter.com/fbz/status/1158871560091865088?s=20
• https://twitter.com/fbz/status/1158870275846369280?s=20
• https://twitter.com/Straithe/status/1158212980787384320?s=20

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{signal: [
  ['Input',
   {name: 'R',        wave: 'x4343434343434343x..........', data: ['R1[0]','R0[0]','R1[1]','R0[1]','R1[2]','R0[2]','R1[3]','R0[3]','R1[4]','R0[4]','R1[5]','R0[5]','R1[6]','R0[6]','R1[7]','R0[7]']},
   {name: 'G',        wave: 'x4343434343434343x..........', data: ['G1[0]','G0[0]','G1[1]','G0[1]','G1[2]','G0[2]','G1[3]','G0[3]','G1[4]','G0[4]','G1[5]','G0[5]','G1[6]','G0[6]','G1[7]','G0[7]']},
   {name: 'B',        wave: 'x4343434343434343x..........', data: ['B1[0]','B0[0]','B1[1]','B0[1]','B1[2]','B0[2]','B1[3]','B0[3]','B1[4]','B0[4]','B1[5]','B0[5]','B1[6]','B0[6]','B1[7]','B0[7]']},
   {name: 'SCLK',    wave: 'hn.......h....', period:2, phase:0.5},
   {name: 'LATCH',    wave: '0........10...', period:2},
   {name: 'BLANK',    wave: 'x.......1..0..', period:2},
   {name: 'ARST',    wave: '1.............', period:2},
   {name: 'ACLK',    wave: '0........10...', period:2}

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A common name for the interface is HUB75

The displays use shift registers for columns and two sets of row multiplexers.

Typical organization

32x32 panel

• Organized in two halfs of 16x32 tiles
• 32 bit long RGB column drive shift registers
• 4 bit to 16 row drive demultiplexers

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# Code generated by Icestudio 0.4.0-dev
# Thu, 25 Oct 2018 18:32:14 GMT

set_io v5beaf0[4] 28
set_io v5beaf0[3] 31
set_io v5beaf0[2] 34
set_io v5beaf0[1] 38
set_io v5beaf0[0] 43
set_io vb20513[5] 3
set_io vb20513[4] 48

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Create a new directory:

mkdir myhardware-git
cd myhardware-git

Initialize git:

git init

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#!/usr/bin/env arm-none-eabi-gdb -nx -batch -x

# The Black Magic Probe has level shifter buffers on its frontend,
# this gdb script enables Black Magic Probe target power,
# this is needed if you are not providing reference voltage from your target.
# Do not run this script or enable target power if you have VREF connected.
# The BMP side TPWR is connected to the 3.3V regulator of the Black Magic Probe
# and it has no protections, so don't fry your target or Black Magic Probe by
# being hasty and not thinking about what you are doing. :D