{"id":372691,"date":"2024-05-21T05:18:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T05:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/savepearlharbor.com\/?p=372691"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T21:00:00","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savepearlharbor.com\/?p=372691","title":{"rendered":"Stopwatch implementation on FPGA board<\/span>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Authors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vladislav Grigorev, Efim Puzhalov, Egor Meganov<\/p>\n

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    Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In this report we describe our implementation experience of a stopwatch system executing on an FPGA board. We programmed this device in the Quartus Prime II software environment by using Verilog hardware description language. The program is tailored to the Altera MAX 10 FPGA board, as well as uses a set of other peripheral devices for progress visualization purposes. During the implementation process, we encountered and resolved several hardware-related problems, including button bounce. The solutions to these issues are detailed within this document. This stopwatch has been implemented as an optional FPGA project on the Computer Architecture course at the Innopolis University.<\/p>\n

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      Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A stopwatch is a timepiece designed to measure the amount of time that elapses between its activation and deactivation. It’s often used in sports, cooking, or other timed events. Clock is a non-portable timepiece used to keep track of time. The key difference lies in their functionality: a clock continuously measures the time, while a stopwatch can be started and stopped to measure the duration of specific events.<\/p>\n

      A stopwatch is a widely used device for measuring time intervals. It’s often used in sports, cooking, or other timed events. Clock is a non-portable timepiece used to keep track of time. The key difference lies in their functionality: a clock continuously measures the time, while a stopwatch can be started and stopped to measure the duration of specific events.<\/p>\n

      There are mainly two types of stopwatches implementations available, which are mechanical and digital. Mechanical stopwatches are powered by a mainspring, which must be wound up by turning the knurled knob. Digital stopwatches, due to their crystal oscillator timing element, are much more accurate than mechanical timepieces. Each type has its own unique features, making them suitable for different applications.<\/p>\n

      In our project we study the implementation aspects of a digital stopwatch system based on the FPGA board. The key advantage of FPGAs is their high response speed and reliability, thus resulting in a more precise stopwatch system. We are not the first ones addressing such an FPGA-based stopwatch implementation ([1], [2]). However, the key advantage of our approach is that our stopwatch is able to count up to one hour without any delays, providing an accurate timekeeping experience. The use of a peripheral LED scheme enhances the visibility of the counting process, making it easy for users to monitor time progression. Furthermore, the ability to pause, continue, and stop the stopwatch offers flexibility and control to the user. This makes our implementation suitable for a wide range of applications where precise time measurement and control are required.<\/p>\n

      During the implementation process, we faced a problem known as button bounce. This phenomenon caused random interference when attempting to record saved loops.<\/p>\n

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        Hardware and software used<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Our project is implemented by using the following devices and technologies (see Appendix Figure 2).<\/p>\n