Our Blog

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UVM: Monitoring/Binding DUT Internal Signals

There are three approaches related to functional verification: black-box, white-box, and gray-box. In this work, a gray-box method is proposed to know the value of internal signals to the DUT. A new class called logic analyzer is created and connected to the DUT using the same approach as the agents. The link between the RTL design and verification components is the top module, where the DUT interface (I/O ports) connects to the virtual interfaces of the agents and, in this case, the logic analyzer. 

November 14, 2024
Verification
SystemVerilog

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From LoRa to LoRaWAN: How Zephyr OS Empowered Emtech's IoT Evolution

In the rapidly changing IoT/AgTech field, Emtech strives to deliver innovative solutions for agriculture. We upgraded from LoRa to LoRaWAN gateways to enable bidirectional communication with our nodes. This led us to adopt Zephyr OS, offering a more robust development experience for LoRaWAN.

August 8, 2024
Embedded
open source

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SOLID Principles in SystemVerilog for Verification

In this article, we will explore how to apply the SOLID principles within the context of SystemVerilog for verification purposes. Originally introduced by Robert C. Martin in the early 2000s, the SOLID principles are a set of five guidelines aimed at improving the design and maintainability of object-oriented software. The acronym SOLID was subsequently coined by Michael Feathers to represent these key principles. The five principles are:S - Single Responsibility Principle. O - Open/Closed Principle. L - Liskov Substitution Principle. I - Interface Segregation Principle. D - Dependency Inversion Principle

August 8, 2024
Verification
SystemVerilog

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Working with Xilinx's AXI Quad SPI in Linux? Streamline Your Setup with This Simple Fix

Last week, our dev team was knee-deep in a project integrating Xilinx's AXI Quad SPI IP into a Petalinux system. Everything seemed to be in order, but they kept hitting a wall when trying to configure the SPI device. After hours of troubleshooting, and a few dips into linux kernel driver debug features (more on this on future posts!), they finally stumbled upon a simple solution that saved the day!

August 8, 2024
Linux
Embedded
FPGA

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Dashboard Creation with Python, Pandas, and Dash

Interactive dashboards are an essential tool for visualizing and exploring data. With Python libraries like Pandas and Dash, creating these dashboards becomes straightforward and efficient. During this post, we'll walk you through the process of building a dashboard step by step, from loading and preprocessing the data to creating interactive plots and generating a web-based interface.

August 8, 2024
free software
SW

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Zephyr OS, A brief introduction

The Zephyr Project emerged on the embedded systems scene in 2016 as a new real-time operating system (RTOS) for embedded and IoT devices. It's a collaborative effort led by the Linux Foundation, along with Wind River, Synopsys, and NXP. Their goal was to create a multi-platform RTOS that leverages proven concepts from the Linux operating system, such as kconfig, device trees, and the driver model.‍

August 8, 2024
open source
Embedded

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Randomization with Systemverilog - Second Part

Discover how to effectively use the unique constraint and explore various methods for randomizing sequences in our comprehensive article.

August 8, 2024
Verification

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Qt Development: Challenges and Strategies for Efficient Code Inheritance

Developing software based on preexisting code is an art in itself. When this challenge is combined with the use of the Qt framework and an inefficient legacy architecture, the complexity and opportunities multiply. In this blog, we will explore not only the benefits and challenges of inheriting code in the world of Qt but also how to address an inefficient legacy architecture and face the eternal dilemma of investing time in redesign versus saving time by maintaining the existing architecture.

August 8, 2024
QT
QCreator

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How can Raspberry Pi's potential be unleashed in developing HMI applications for IoT with intensive loads?

Unlocking the Raspberry Pi's full potential for developing HMI applications for IoT involves a symphony of components, from the nimble Buildroot OS to the versatile OPC UA Server, TCP/IP Server, Serial Interface, RDP, SFTP, Camera, and seamless OS updates. Each element plays a pivotal role in enabling efficient communication, remote access, and adaptability, making it an ideal solution for the challenges of demanding industrial scenarios.

August 8, 2024
Embedded
raspberrypi
QT
QCreator
system software

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Digital FPGA & ASIC design - Clock domain crossing (CDC)

The principles of synchronous digital design state that we must have a clock, which will nicely mark the rhythm of the different signals traversing our device. We can think of this clock as a sort of orchestra director, which will make sure that everyone does its job exactly when it is required - not before, nor after.However, complex digital designs will often have more than one clock domain. When this happens, it is like having a whole new orchestra, playing side by side to the old one. If we keep them away from each other, they will both play independently, each at its own pace - but what happens when we need to make them play together? Which director will the different instruments follow? What happens when one orchestra needs to “borrow” a player from the other one in the middle of the concert? This is the problem we face when dealing with clock domain crossings, or CDCs.

August 8, 2024
FPGA
RTL

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Relevance of PCB Design in the Current Industry

In an increasingly interconnected world, where electronics span from mobile devices to autonomous vehicles, communication systems and high-precision medical systems, PCB design stands as a crucial foundation for innovation. It provides the physical and electrical structure that enables devices to function correctly and communicate efficiently with each other.

August 8, 2024
Embedded
FPGA

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Randomization with Systemverilog

Developing a test where simulation parameters are randomized enables achieving better coverage of the DUT’s state space by simulating different test seeds. This methodology reduces the time required for test creation and maintenance. If a directed test is required, it can be created by adding constraints to the random test.

August 8, 2024
FPGA
RTL
Verification

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Linux for Embedded Devices - Third Approach

In the previous article, we looked at how hardware starts, found the bootloader, loaded the kernel, searched and configured the drivers and started the user space .In this article we must deepen in the user space initialization process.

August 8, 2024
Linux
open source
Operating Systems
raspberrypi
system software

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Management of complex projects

Today, more than an article, we are giving you a presentation that was made internally to give a small overview of some tools, frameworks and strategies that can help us lead projects or better understand the processes that must be done to successfully meet the projects with the objectives. that we work every day. It is important to gain a deeper understanding of project planning and execution, which is accompanied by challenges and setbacks. When leading complex projects, different types of complexities can arise, from their structure and scope to their changing nature, along with power and political dynamics within the project team and external stakeholders. I hope you like it and can learn a little more about project management.

August 8, 2024
Complex Projects
Agile
Project Management

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Integrate an OPC UA Server into an embedded or PC application using the QT platform

In today's post we will introduce you to automating industrial or Internet of Things equipment through an API developed with the OPC UA standard using QT as a development platform. QT allows you to create cross-platform applications, so you could create an application that runs both on a PC and on an embedded system like a raspberry pi.

August 8, 2024
QCreator
Linux
Embedded
raspberrypi
system software

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Linux for Embedded Devices - Second Approach

In the previous article, we saw what Linux is, what it is suitable for, and what is the basic structure from a kernel view. In the present article we discussed, deeper, what is the structure of that called userland.

August 8, 2024
Linux
Embedded
Operating Systems
open source
system software

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Linux for Embedded Devices - First Approach -

Linux is a very popular operating system in many computer systems and it's a first choice on data centers and high end software infrastructure, but the flexibility of the penguin’s kernel made this to be very suitable for extremely low end devices. Come with me and discover the blessings and curses of the linux kernel in embedded systems, low resource devices and (not-so-)hard-real-time things.

August 8, 2024
Linux
Embedded
Operating Systems
system software
open source