FPGA DESIGN VHDL MASTERY - Expanded Project Guides
Generated from:
FPGA_DESIGN_VHDL_MASTERY.mdThis folder contains deep-dive guides for each project in the learning path.
Overview
These guides expand each project into a full learning guide with theory, architecture, implementation phases, testing, and extensions.
Project Index
| # | Project | Difficulty | Time | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Dimmer | Level 1: Beginner (The Tinkerer) | 1-2 weeks | Digital Logic / Clock Dividers |
| 2 | The Finite State Machine (FSM) Traffic Light | Level 2: Intermediate (The Developer) | 1-2 weeks | State Machines / Control Logic |
| 3 | UART Serial Controller (Talk to your PC) | Level 2: Intermediate (The Developer) | 1-2 weeks | Communication Protocols / Timing |
| 4 | Fixed-Point CORDIC Square Rooter | Level 3: Advanced (The Engineer) | 1-2 weeks | Computer Arithmetic / DSP |
| 5 | LFSR-based Stream Cipher (Crypto Core) | Level 2: Intermediate (The Developer) | 1-2 weeks | Cryptography / Bit Manipulation |
| 6 | VGA Pattern Generator (The Video Clock) | Level 3: Advanced (The Engineer) | 1-2 weeks | Video Protocols / High-Speed Timing |
| 7 | Grayscale Image Processor (BRAM Mastery) | Level 3: Advanced (The Engineer) | 1-2 weeks | Memory Interfacing / Image Processing |
| 8 | Sobel Edge Detection (The Pipeline) | Level 4: Expert (The Systems Architect) | 1-2 weeks | Pipelining / Convolution / Vision |
| 9 | Tiny Encryption Algorithm (TEA) | Level 3: Advanced (The Engineer) | 1-2 weeks | Cryptography / Datapath Design |
| 10 | AES-128 Encryption Core (The Industry Standard) | Level 5: Master (The First-Principles Wizard) | 1-2 weeks | Cryptography / High-Performance Design |
| 11 | Median Filter for Video (Noise Reduction) | Level 4: Expert (The Systems Architect) | 1-2 weeks | Sorting Networks / Video Processing |
| 12 | SHA-256 Hash Engine (Bitcoin’s Heart) | Level 5: Master (The First-Principles Wizard) | 1-2 weeks | Cryptography / Pipelining |
| 13 | The Soft-Core CPU (MIPS Subset) | Level 5: Master (The First-Principles Wizard) | 1-2 weeks | Computer Architecture / ISAs |
| 14 | Neural Network Neuron (Hardware MAC) | Level 4: Expert (The Systems Architect) | 1-2 weeks | AI Hardware / Parallel Math |
Prerequisites
- Basic programming and system fundamentals
- Comfort with command line tooling