Nios embedded processor

Nios is the product name of an embedded processor on the chip manufacturer Altera, the so-called soft -core as a processor, ie a synthetic CPU which is implemented in an FPGA, are provided. The current version is called complete Nios II processor, by using the original first version is not recommended.

Practically, it is at Nios to a comprehensive collection of program statements in the form of files that define the functions of electrical circuits in a hardware description language. These programs can be read by special HDL compilers and translates to a circuit which is registered as a configuration in a programmable logic device. So then this block contains the fully functional processor.

Altera supports hardware / software co-design, by various versions offered by Nios, which differ in the hardware architecture, but are software compatible. This allows, for example, between a faster or to choose a more compact design. There is also the ability of the processor with additional modules to configure, such as a floating point unit, in order to optimize the performance of a particular task.

Together with other application specific circuit elements such as RAM or IO interfaces, which are also programmed into the module, the processor then acts on the one hand as specific hardware, but can on the other hand as a normal processor with software to be loaded and operated (for example, C or C ). Thus, existing originally pure processor-based systems can be integrated and expanded existing software.

The NIOS system is assembled on the SOPC Builder ( System-On -a- Programmable - Chip). An SOPC project consists of individual logic blocks forming the sinks and sources of data. The individual logic blocks are connected by the Avalon Switch Fabric. The SOPC Builder provides a graphical user interface to describe the target system graphically. The configured system consisting of processor and hardware is then exported to a set of VHDL or Verilog files, which are then used an FPGA Altera can be configured as a system on a chip.