VGA Controller FPGA Project Overview


This project is a reference/template design for a VGA controller that uses an ICE40-platform FPGA (the ICE40HX1K-VQ100) as its central processing unit. Here’s a brief overview:
  1. FPGA Core:
    • The FPGA (U2) is responsible for generating the VGA timing signals and interfacing with external components.
    • It is housed in a TQFP‑100 package and includes a large number of I/O pins used—in this design—for data, control, and clock functions.
  2. Memory Interface:
    • An external asynchronous SRAM (IS62WV25616BLL-55TLI) is included, likely to store video frame data or provide a frame buffer for the VGA output.
  3. Clock Generation:
    • A 27 MHz oscillator (Y1—ASFL3‑27.000MHZ‑EK‑T) provides the necessary clock signal. This frequency (or a derived clock) is used as the basis for VGA timing generation.
  4. Power and Voltage Regulation:
    • Voltage regulation is managed with linear regulators such as the AMS1117‑3.3 and NCP1117 variants, ensuring the proper supply voltages (3.3 V, +1V2, +5 V, etc.) are delivered to the FPGA and other logic.
    • Multiple power net portals (+3V3, +5V, etc.) are defined to maintain clean, well-distributed power.
  5. Support Components and Connectivity:
    • Numerous net portals (e.g., SRAM_A#, SRAM_D#, FPGA_VGA_*, etc.) are used to logically group and connect different signals across the design.
    • Decoupling capacitors, resistors, and additional passive components are added as needed for signal integrity and proper operation.
    • The design also includes a VGA connector (KH-HDR15P-F3.08) for output, which is used to physically drive the display.
Overall, the project is structured as a template where the FPGA implements the VGA signal generation logic and communicates with external SRAM memory for video data, while a supporting network of passive components and regulators ensures proper power supply and signal conditioning throughout the system. This makes it a comprehensive starting point for developers looking to implement VGA controllers on devices like the ICE40 series FPGAs.

U5
Manufacturer Part Number
AMS1117-3.3
SRAM_A0
SRAM_D4
SRAM_A1
SRAM_D4
SRAM_LB
MOSI
OSC_STDBY
MISO
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_2
SRAM_A4
SRAM_A11
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_2
OSC_STDBY
SRAM_A5
SRAM_A2
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_1
SRAM_A3
MOSI
SRAM_A7
SRAM_D8
SRAM_A8
FPGA_VGA_RED_2
SRAM_D14
SRAM_WE
SRAM_A2
SRAM_D10
SRAM_CS
SRAM_OE
SRAM_D2
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_0
SRAM_OE
FPGA_VGA_HSYNC
SRAM_A17
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_1
SRAM_A16
SCK
SRAM_A10
SRAM_A17
SRAM_A6
SRAM_A16
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_0
SRAM_D2
SRAM_D5
SRAM_A9
SRAM_D11
SRAM_A14
SRAM_WE
SRAM_CS
SRAM_D12
CRESET
SRAM_OE
SRAM_D6
MISO
SRAM_A13
SRAM_D7
SRAM_A10
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_0
SRAM_A8
FPGA_VGA_VSYNC
SRAM_D9
SRAM_D14
SRAM_D15
CRESET
SRAM_LB
SRAM_A4
SRAM_D12
SRAM_D6
SRAM_A14
SRAM_A15
SRAM_D1
FPGA_VGA_VSYNC
FPGA_VGA_RED_2
SRAM_D7
SRAM_WE
SRAM_A5
SRAM_A6
FPGA_VGA_RED_0
SRAM_UB
SRAM_A7
SRAM_D0
CDONE
25MHz
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_2
SRAM_A9
SRAM_D3
SRAM_A13
SRAM_D13
SRAM_A15
SRAM_UB
25MHz
SRAM_D1
FPGA_VGA_RED_1
SCK
SRAM_D13
SRAM_D0
SS
SRAM_A12
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_1
CDONE
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_2
SRAM_D9
SRAM_A11
SRAM_D10
SRAM_A12
FPGA_VGA_RED_0
FPGA_VGA_RED_1
SS
FPGA_VGA_BLUE_0
SRAM_A0
SRAM_D15
SRAM_D3
SRAM_D8
SRAM_D11
FPGA_VGA_GREEN_1
SRAM_D5
SRAM_A1
SRAM_A3
SRAM_CS
FPGA_VGA_HSYNC
+3V3
R6
Resistance
549 Ω
R2
Resistance
1kΩ
+1V2
Y1
R5
Resistance
1kΩ
R7
Resistance
2kΩ
R12
Resistance
330 Ω
R8
Resistance
1kΩ
+3V3
+3V3
R14
Resistance
10kΩ
+5V
R10
Resistance
2kΩ
+5V
+3V3
+1V2
R11
Resistance
330 Ω
+3V3
+3V3
+3V3
R1
Resistance
1kΩ
R15
Resistance
10kΩ
R3
Resistance
549 Ω
+3V3
R4
Resistance
2kΩ
+3V3
R13
Resistance
10kΩ
R9
Resistance
549 Ω
+5V
+3V3
+5V
+1V2
+3V3
C9
Capacitance
0.1uF
C21
Capacitance
0.1uF
C7
Capacitance
1uF
C15
Capacitance
0.1uF
C19
Capacitance
0.1uF
C6
Capacitance
10uF
C4
Capacitance
1uF
C10
Capacitance
0.1uF
C17
Capacitance
0.1uF
C22
Capacitance
10uF
C5
Capacitance
0.1uF
C2
Capacitance
1uF
C25
Capacitance
0.1uF
C12
Capacitance
0.1uF
C24
Capacitance
0.1uF
C14
Capacitance
1uF
C13
Capacitance
10uF
C1
Capacitance
10uF
C3
Capacitance
10uF
C8
Capacitance
0.1uF
C16
Capacitance
0.1uF
J2
C20
Capacitance
0.1uF
C23
Capacitance
1uF
LED1
C18
Capacitance
0.1uF
C11
Capacitance
0.1uF
VGA1
U4
Manufacturer Part Number
NCP1117ST50T3G
D1
U2
IC1

FPGA VGA Controller Template