Introduction

This chapter presents a step-by-step procedure to program the DT1260 (also called SciDK) board using SCI-Compiler. Additional examples are available as diagrams in the Example Project folder of SCI-Compiler for further exploration and customization.

What You’ll Build

In this tutorial, you will create firmware implementing:

  • Dual-channel waveform recording on both analog inputs
  • Adjustable signal offset via programmable DAC
  • Oscilloscope readout for real-time waveform visualization

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • ✓ SCI-Compiler installed and licensed
  • ✓ DT1260 hardware connected via USB
  • ✓ USB drivers installed (automatic with SCI-Compiler)
  • ✓ Xilinx Vivado 2017.4 installed (for local compilation)

Note: This tutorial follows the preliminary setup described in the Installation chapter.

Step 1: Launch SCI-Compiler

Open the SCI-Compiler application from your Windows Start menu or desktop shortcut.

Step 2: Create a New Project

  1. Click New Project in the toolbar or go to File → New Project
  2. Select SciDK-DT1260 as the target platform
  3. Choose a name for your project (e.g., MyFirstDT1260)
  4. Select a folder location to save the project
  5. Press Create

A blank diagram page will open, ready for your design.

Create New Project

Figure 1: Creating a new project for DT1260 in SCI-Compiler

Step 3: Add Analog Input Blocks

The DT1260 has two analog input channels. We’ll add both to the design.

Add the Input Blocks

  1. From the top toolbar, select Board Pin → Analog In
  2. A selection window will open showing available analog inputs
  3. Select both rows (Channel 0 and Channel 1)
  4. Press OK

Two analog input blocks will appear on the diagram, representing the DT1260’s physical inputs.

Analog Input Selection

Figure 2: Selecting both analog input channels

Step 4: Add Oscilloscope Block

Now add a readout endpoint to capture and view the waveforms.

Add the Oscilloscope

  1. From the top toolbar, select DAQ → Oscilloscope
  2. The Oscilloscope block will be placed on the diagram

Configure the Oscilloscope

  1. Right-click on the Oscilloscope block
  2. Select Properties or Configure
  3. Set the parameters as shown below:
    • Number of samples: 1024
    • Number of channels: 2
    • Data width: 12 (matches DT1260 ADC resolution)
    • Analog Inputs: 2
    • Digital Inputs: 0
  4. Press Apply

Oscilloscope Configuration

Figure 3: Configuring Oscilloscope parameters

Step 5: Connect the Blocks

Now connect the analog inputs to the oscilloscope.

Make the Connections

  1. Click on the output port of the first Analog In block (Channel 0)
  2. Drag to the first analog input of the Oscilloscope block
  3. Repeat for the second Analog In block (Channel 1)

Your diagram should now look like this:

Block Diagram

Figure 4: Connected block diagram

Connection summary:

  • Analog In CH0 → Oscilloscope Analog Input 0
  • Analog In CH1 → Oscilloscope Analog Input 1

Step 6: Assign Memory Mapping

Before compilation, we need to assign memory addresses to the Oscilloscope endpoint.

Configure Memory Map

  1. Go to the Memory Mapping tab (bottom of the screen)
  2. Press Refresh to detect all endpoints
  3. Press Auto Assign to automatically allocate memory addresses

The Oscilloscope and ANALOG_OFFSET register will be assigned addresses.

Memory Mapping

Figure 5: Memory mapping configuration

Step 7: Compile the Firmware

Now we’re ready to generate the FPGA firmware.

Start Compilation

  1. In the top toolbar, go to Home → Compile
  2. The compilation process will begin

Compile Button

Figure 6: Compile button in toolbar

Monitor Compilation Progress

  • Watch the Compiler Output window for progress messages
  • Compilation typically takes 10-20 minutes for DT1260
  • Successful compilation shows “Compilation completed successfully”

Troubleshooting:

  • If errors occur, check that all blocks are connected
  • Verify memory mapping was completed
  • Ensure Vivado 2017.4 is properly installed

Step 8: Generate Flash File

After successful compilation, generate the firmware file for programming.

Create Firmware File

  1. Click on Generate Flash File in the toolbar
  2. A .niu firmware file will be created and saved in your project folder

Generate Flash File

Figure 7: Generate Flash File button

The firmware is now ready to be programmed into the DT1260.

Step 9: Enter Bootloader Mode

To program the DT1260, it must be in bootloader mode.

Switch to Bootloader

  1. Disconnect the DT1260 from USB
  2. Locate the bootloader switch on the rear panel
  3. Move the switch to the right (bootloader position)
  4. Reconnect the USB cable

The BL LED on the front panel should stay ON in blue (solid, not blinking).

Bootloader Switch

Figure 8: Bootloader switch position (right = bootloader mode)

Important: The blue LED must be solid ON. If it’s blinking, the board is in normal mode, not bootloader.

Step 10: Program the Firmware

Now use SCI-Compiler’s Flash Programming Tool to upload the firmware.

Launch Flash Tool

  1. From SCI-Compiler toolbar, press Flash Program Tool

Flash Program Tool

Figure 9: Flash Program Tool button

Select Device

  1. The Flash Programming wizard will open
  2. Select SciDK-DT1260 from the dropdown menu
  3. Press Next

Flash Tool Step 1

Figure 10: Select device type

Select Board PID

  1. Select the PID (Product ID) of your connected DT1260
  2. If no PID appears:
    • Check USB connection
    • Verify bootloader switch is in the right position
    • Ensure USB drivers are installed
  3. Press Next

Flash Tool Step 2

Figure 11: Select board PID

Browse and Program

  1. Click Browse and navigate to the .niu firmware file in your project folder
  2. Press Start to begin programming
  3. Wait for the process to complete (typically 30-60 seconds)

Flash Programming

Figure 12: Select firmware file and start programming

Programming Complete

When finished, a success message will appear.

Programming Complete

Figure 13: Firmware programming completed

Press OK to close the dialog.

Step 11: Switch to Normal Operation

After programming, return the board to normal operating mode.

Exit Bootloader Mode

  1. Disconnect the DT1260 from USB (power OFF)
  2. Move the bootloader switch to the left (normal operation)
  3. Reconnect the USB cable

After a few seconds, the BL LED should start blinking in blue, indicating the board is running valid firmware.

Success indicator: Blinking blue LED = firmware running correctly

Step 12: Open Resource Explorer

Now test the firmware using SCI-Compiler’s Resource Explorer tool.

Launch Resource Explorer

From SCI-Compiler toolbar, click Resource Explorer

Resource Explorer Button

Figure 14: Resource Explorer button

Step 13: Connect to the Board

Connect Resource Explorer to your DT1260 hardware.

Establish Connection

  1. Verify the DT1260 is connected via USB
  2. Select DT1260 from the model dropdown
  3. Choose the correct Serial Number / PID from the list
  4. Press Connect

Resource Explorer Connect

Figure 15: Connecting to DT1260 in Resource Explorer

Step 14: View Oscilloscope Data

Resource Explorer will enumerate all available endpoints in your firmware.

Open Oscilloscope Viewer

  1. In the Resource Explorer tree, you’ll see Oscilloscope_0 listed
  2. Right-click on Oscilloscope_0
  3. Select View

Oscilloscope View Option

Figure 16: Opening Oscilloscope viewer

Step 15: Configure and Run Oscilloscope

Now configure the oscilloscope to capture waveforms.

Set Oscilloscope Parameters

Configure the following settings:

  • Trigger Source: Free running (no external trigger needed)
  • Trigger Mode: Auto
  • Pretrigger: 0 (or desired value)
  • Decimator: 1 (no decimation)

Press Play (▶ button) to start acquisition.

View Baseline

You should see two traces representing the baseline of both analog input channels:

  • Blue trace: Channel 0
  • Green trace: Channel 1

Oscilloscope Plot

Figure 17: Oscilloscope displaying baseline traces

Note: The baseline appears at approximately mid-scale (~2048 counts) by default.

Step 16: Adjust Input Offset

Now test the ANALOG_OFFSET register to shift the input baseline.

Access the Offset Register

  1. In the Resource Explorer tree, locate ANALOG_OFFSET under Registers
  2. Right-click on ANALOG_OFFSET
  3. Select Set/Get

Register Tree

Figure 18: Accessing ANALOG_OFFSET register

Set a New Offset Value

  1. A register control dialog will appear
  2. Select Decimal mode
  3. Enter the value 1000
  4. Press Set

Set Offset

Figure 19: Setting offset to 1000

Observe the Result

After pressing Set, the oscilloscope traces will shift to approximately 1000 ADC counts.

Baseline Shifted

Figure 20: Baseline shifted to ~1000 counts after offset adjustment

What happened:

  • The 12-bit DAC adjusted the analog offset
  • Both input channels shifted by ~1000 counts
  • This demonstrates real-time register control from Resource Explorer

Understanding the Results

Input Dynamic Range

The DT1260 has a 2 Vpp input range with 12-bit resolution (4096 levels):

Input Voltage ADC Value Description
-1V 0 Minimum
0V ~2048 Mid-scale (default)
+1V 4095 Maximum

Offset Register Function

The ANALOG_OFFSET register controls a 12-bit DAC that adjusts the DC offset:

  • Value 0: Baseline at ~0 (maximum negative offset)
  • Value 2048: Baseline at ~2048 (centered, default)
  • Value 4095: Baseline at ~4095 (maximum positive offset)

Use cases:

  • Positive signals only: Set offset to 0 to use full dynamic range
  • Negative signals only: Set offset to 4095
  • Bipolar signals: Set offset to 2048 for symmetric coverage

Next Steps

Congratulations! You’ve successfully:

  • ✓ Created a firmware design in SCI-Compiler
  • ✓ Compiled FPGA firmware
  • ✓ Programmed the DT1260 hardware
  • ✓ Tested with Resource Explorer
  • ✓ Controlled registers in real-time

Experiment Further

Try these modifications to learn more:

  1. Add a signal source:

    • Connect a function generator to Channel 0 input
    • Set trigger to “Analog Input 0”
    • Adjust threshold to capture pulses

  2. Add more processing:

    • Insert a Trigger Discriminator block
    • Add a Baseline Restorer
    • Experiment with Digital Shapers

  3. Add a Spectrum endpoint:

    • Include a Spectrum block for MCA functionality
    • Connect energy values from shapers
    • View histogram in Resource Explorer

  4. Use digital I/O:

    • Add Digital Out blocks
    • Generate trigger output signals
    • Create gate patterns

Advanced Topics

Once comfortable with the basics, explore:

  • Trapezoidal filters for energy measurement
  • Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurements
  • Custom trigger logic
  • List mode for event-by-event data
  • Software integration with SciSDK (Python, C++)

Troubleshooting

Compilation Fails

Problem: Vivado reports errors during compilation

Solutions:

  • Verify all blocks are properly connected
  • Check that memory mapping was completed
  • Ensure Vivado 2017.4 is correctly installed
  • Review error messages in Compiler Output window

Flash Programming Fails

Problem: Flash tool cannot find the device

Solutions:

  • Check bootloader switch is in the right position
  • Verify USB cable connection
  • Ensure BL LED is solid blue (not blinking)
  • Try a different USB port (avoid hubs)
  • Reinstall USB drivers from SCI-Compiler

No Signal in Resource Explorer

Problem: Oscilloscope shows flat line or no data

Solutions:

  • Verify board is in normal mode (bootloader switch left)
  • Check BL LED is blinking blue (firmware running)
  • Select “Free running” trigger mode for baseline view
  • Ensure correct board PID is selected in Resource Explorer

Baseline Not Shifting with Offset

Problem: ANALOG_OFFSET register has no effect

Solutions:

  • Verify the register appears in memory mapping
  • Check value is in range 0-4095
  • Allow 100ms for DAC to settle
  • Re-read offset value to verify it was set

Summary

This tutorial covered the complete workflow for DT1260 firmware development:

Step Action Tool
Design Create block diagram SCI-Compiler Editor
Compile Generate VHDL and bitstream Xilinx Vivado
Program Upload firmware to flash Flash Program Tool
Test View data and control registers Resource Explorer

You now have the foundation to create more complex designs. Experiment with the example projects included with SCI-Compiler and explore the extensive block library to build custom signal processing systems.

Happy FPGA programming!