General-Purpose I/O Controller Core

Overview

The GPIO core is used to create functions in a system that are not implemented with dedicated controllers, and require simple input and/or output software-controlled signals.

The number of general-purpose I/O signals is user selectable ranging from 1 to 32. For more I/O signals, several GPIO cores can be used in parallel. Each GPIO signal can be programmed individually as an input, an input in interrupt mode, an output, a bi-directional I/O, or as driven by an auxiliary input. GPIO signals programmed as inputs can be registered at the rising edge of the system clock or at a user-programmed edge of the external clock.

The GPIO core is rigorously verified, silicon-proven and available in RTL source or as a targeted FPGA netlist.

Key Features

User selectable number of GPIO signals from 1 to 32
All GPIO signals can be bi-directional (external bi-directional I/O cells are required in that case)
All GPIO signals can be tri-stated or open-drain enabled (external tri-state or open-drain I/O cells are required in that case)
GPIO signals programmed as in-puts can cause an interrupt request to the CPU
All GPIO signals are programmed as inputs at hardware reset
Auxiliary inputs to the GPIO core bypass outputs from RGPIO_OUT register
Alternative input reference clock signal from external interface
32-bit AHB interface (contact CAST for other interfaces)
Extremely configurable (implementation of registers, external clock inverted versus negative edge flip-flops etc.)

Block Diagram

Applications

The GPIO core can be used in a wide range of applications where simple I/O control is needed.

Deliverables

Synthesizable RTL or FPGA netlist
Testbench & sample test cases
Simulation & synthesis scripts
Documentation

Technical Specifications

Maturity

Production Proven

Availability

Now

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