This tutorial shows how to add an additional UART module on a PYNQ-based system only by modifying the programmable logic (PL) part of a Zynq system. The tutorial was applied on a Zedboard platform running Pynq 2.4 image.

Introduction

First of all, you need to have a working PYNQ-based system. This tutorial can be applied on any PYNQ-based system. For instance, on a Pynq-Z1 platform the base overlay

Overlay building

• Start Vivado tool. I used Vivado 2017.4 but any other version can be used to generate the bitstream of the overlay.
• Create an RTL project.
• In a block design, instantiate Zynq PS system. Run Automation tool to build the basic Zynq-based system.
• From the IP catalog, add UART AXI lite module. Run again Automation tool to connect the instantiated axi-based uart to the PS.
• By default, the baud rate is 9600. Right click on the module and adapt the values to your project. In my case, I chose the baud rate of 115200, no parity, ho hardware control.
• Add a constraint file constraints.xdc with the pin assignments for RX and TX. On Zedboard, I chose JB PMOD port for UART connections: JB1 connected to W11 and JB2 connected to W12.
• Create an HDL-wrapper of your design.
• Run synthesize, implementation and generate bistream phases. Wait until the bitsream is generated.
• Export the block design you create by File->Export->Export Block Design
• Rename the generated design_1.tcl and design_1_wrapper_hdl.bit to uart.bit and uart.tcl

UART IP using in PYNQ

• Connect to your Zedboard through Samba and copy uart.bit and uart.tcl to the pynq overlay folder
• Connect to your platform via browser via 192.168.7.2
• Download the uart custom overlay to the Zedboard PL part
• By ussing mmio package and the memory addresses we can access to the RX and TX data.