FPGA Based

Data
Acquisition
System
By Vivek Menon
 Data Acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of converting real-world physical signals into digital data
for analysis, storage, and control. Data acquisition involves the following steps:
 Signal Sampling: Data acquisition involves sampling real-world physical signals,
such as temperature, pressure, or sound.
 Analog-to-Digital Conversion: The sampled analog signals are converted into digital
data using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
 Signal Processing: The digital data may undergo processing, such as filtering or
averaging, to extract meaningful information.
 Storage and Analysis: The processed digital data is stored for further analysis or used
to control processes.
 Necessity of such a System
 Real-time Audio Processing: Enables audio effects processing, noise cancellation,
and speech recognition in various devices and systems.
 Low Latency Communication: Facilitates low-latency communication for real-time
audio monitoring, analysis, and feedback between the FPGA-based system and a
computer.
 Research and Development: Useful for prototyping and testing new audio processing
algorithms, digital signal processing techniques, and communication protocols.
 Secure Communication: FPGAs can implement encryption and secure
communication protocols, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of acquired data.
 Methodology
 In the 1980s, data acquisition used standalone systems, modular instruments, and
custom integrated circuits with analog-to-digital converters, digital signal processing
chips, and microprocessors, along with dedicated interface cards and software for
data processing.
 In the late 2000s, data acquisition designs included USB-based modules, Ethernet
systems, and PCIe cards, featuring integrated ADCs, DSP capabilities, and advanced
software for analysis. Remote data acquisition with wireless connectivity also
gained popularity.
 In 2015, data acquisition designs included high-speed USB modules, Ethernet-based
systems, and PCIe cards with integrated ADCs and advanced DSP capabilities.
Cloud-based storage and wireless sensor like IoT’s networks also gained traction.
 Working of an FPGA based System
 PDM Microphone: Captures analog audio signals and converts them into digital
audio using the Digital Analog Converters.
 FPGA Processing: Receives digital audio data from the PDM microphone and
implements a CIC filter to process and filter the audio signal.
 Ethernet Communication: Sends processed audio data to a computer via an Ethernet
connection.
 Computer Visualization: Software on the computer receives the audio data from the
FPGA over the Ethernet connection, allowing for visualization, further processing,
and analysis of the received audio data.
 Genesys 2
 FPGA Part Number: The board is based on the XC7K325T-2FFG900C Kintex-7™
FPGA from Xilinx.
 Logic Slices: It boasts 50,950 logic slices, each with four 6-input LUTs and 8 flip-flops.
 Block RAM: The board has 16 Mbits of fast block RAM.
 DSP Slices: It is equipped with 840 DSP slices.
 Clock Speed: The internal clock speed exceeds 450MHz.
 Built-in Peripherals: The board comes with built-in peripherals, including Ethernet,
audio, and USB 2.0.
 Applications: It is well suited for data and video processing applications.
 Programming Sources: The board can be programmed from various sources, including
a USB thumb drive, microSD, the on-board non-volatile Flash, or the on-board USB-
JTAG programmer circuit.
 Software Used
 Xilinx Vivado 2022.2
Preliminary Results
Timing Summary
 Literature Review
FPGA-based Data Acquisition System
(By Y. Fan)
Objective:
The paper aims to design a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based data acquisition system. The
system leverages the high processing speed of FPGA to realize physical signal acquisition, analog signal to
digital signal conversion, and data storage.
Summary:
The system is divided into three modules: the front-end signal processing module, FPGA data acquisition
module, and data storage module. The FPGA data acquisition module is designed by the VHDL and
simulated by the ISE software1. The system collects and stores the data, with FPGA serving as the core of
the data acquisition system.
Unique Idea:
The unique idea in this paper is the use of FPGA as the core of the data acquisition system. This allows the
system to leverage the high processing speed of FPGA for data acquisition and storage. The system is
designed to be a simple unit with low power consumption, capable of collecting data from different sensors.
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FPGA-based multi-channel data acquisition system for Superheated Emulsion Detectors(By Shantonu Sahoo, Niraj Chaddha, Sunita Sahoo, Nilanjan Biswas, Anindya Roy, Mala Das, Sarbajit Pal)

Objective:
The objective of the described system is to develop a 10-channel FPGA-based data acquisition (DAQ) system for capturing
acoustic phase transition signals in superheated liquid detectors (SEDs). The system is designed to be compact, portable, and
capable of interfacing with both condenser microphones and piezoelectric sensors. It aims to provide simultaneous acquisition
from multiple sensors, pre-post trigger adjustment, and user-programmable threshold capabilities
Summary:
The system consists of analog signal processing modules, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) boards, and an FPGA board. It is
designed to capture acoustic signals from SEDs, which occur during phase transitions in the superheated liquid and lie in a wide
frequency range between 1 kHz and 200 kHz. The system is capable of capturing signals from different types of acoustic sensors,
such as condenser microphones and piezoelectric sensors, which operate in different frequency regions. The DAQ unit is enclosed
in a compact half-size rack-mountable instrument box and is interfaced to a PC through UART. It features a graphical user
interface (GUI) for controlling data acquisition and provides features such as programmable threshold, pre-post trigger settings,
software-triggered acquisition, event-wise data logging, and simultaneous online display of acquired data.
Unique Idea:
One unique idea used in the described system is the implementation of a 10-channel FPGA-based DAQ unit that is specifically
tailored for capturing acoustic signals from SEDs. The system's ability to handle multiple sensors, provide user-programmable
threshold capabilities, and offer simultaneous acquisition from different types of acoustic sensors makes it a versatile and
specialized tool for capturing and analyzing acoustic phase transition signals in SEDs. Additionally, the use of a compact, portable
design and the inclusion of a graphical user interface for user control and data visualization further enhance the system's usability
and practicality.
 FPGA based Real Time Data Acquisition System
(By S. R. Patil, R. S. Bhoite, Vishal V. Patil, S.A. Shinde and
Objective:
R.K. Kamat)
The objective of the described system is to develop a real-time temperature monitoring system using FPGA technology.
The system aims to address the need for a reliable and efficient temperature monitoring and logging system for various
applications and systems that are sensitive to temperature changes. The use of FPGA technology allows for flexibility,
low power operation, and the potential for real-time data acquisition.
Summary:
The system utilizes a TMP121 temperature sensor and a Xilinx Spartan 3e FPGA for real-time temperature monitoring.
The sensor is capable of measuring temperatures within a range of -40°C to +125°C with high accuracy and low power
consumption. The FPGA is used to acquire the temperature data from the sensor and display it on an LCD. The system
has been successfully tested for monitoring ambient temperatures and has potential applications in communication,
computer, consumer, environmental, industrial, and instrumentation fields.
Unique Idea:
The unique idea used in this system is the utilization of FPGA technology for real-time temperature monitoring. The
FPGA's reconfigurability, low power operation, and capability to interface with external devices make it a versatile
platform for developing such monitoring systems. Additionally, the use of a soft IP core designed in Handel C for
acquiring temperature data and displaying it on an LCD demonstrates the flexibility and customization potential of the
FPGA-based solution. This approach allows for efficient and accurate temperature monitoring while offering the
potential for extended thermal measurement in various applications.
 References
 Y. Fan, "FPGA-based data acquisition system," 2011 IEEE International
Conference on Signal Processing, Communications and Computing (ICSPCC),
Xi'an, China, 2011, pp. 1-3, doi: 10.1109/ICSPCC.2011.6061756.
 Shantonu Sahoo, Niraj Chaddha, Sunita Sahoo, Nilanjan Biswas, Anindya Roy,
Mala Das, Sarbajit Pal, FPGA-based multi-channel data acquisition system for
Superheated Emulsion Detectors,Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics
Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated
Equipment,Volume 1009,2021,165457,ISSN 0168-9002
 TY-JOUR,AU- Patil,Sanmati,AU-Bhoite,R.,AU-Patil,Vishal.AU-
Shinde,Santosh,AU-Kamat, Rajanish,PY-2010/07/07,SP- 45,EP - 50,T1 - FPGA
based Real Time Data Acquisition System,VL - July-December 2010, Volume 1,
No. 2,,JO - International Journal of VLSI Design,ER
 Detailed Timeline
December
 Researching the topic.
 Initial considerations for project.
January
 Initial Familiarisation of the software Vivado.
 Debugging the codes and removing the errors from the modules.
 Completed implementation in Vivado and bitstream was generated.
February 10 - 25
 Working on the implementation of the codes on the board.
 Initial testing phase
March
 Documentation