What is the FPGA Module?

The FPGA Module is a software add-on for LabVIEW that you can use to more efficiently and effectively design FPGA-based systems through a highly integrated development environment, IP libraries, a high-fidelity simulator, and debugging features.Use the FPGA Module and LabVIEW to create VIs that run on NI FPGA targets, such as Reconfigurable I/O (RIO) devices. FPGA targets contain a reconfigurable FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) surrounded by fixed I/O resources. Depending on the specific FPGA target, fixed I/O resources can include analog and digital resources, such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs), that you can control from the FPGA.

With the FPGA Module, you configure the behavior of the reconfigurable FPGA to match the requirements of a specific measurement and control system. The VI you create to run on an FPGA target is called the FPGA VI. Use the FPGA Module to write FPGA VIs. When you download the FPGA VI to the FPGA, you are programming the functionality of the FPGA target. Each new FPGA VI you create and download is a custom timing, triggering, and I/O solution.

Browse Related Concepts for topics to help you get started with building a LabVIEW FPGA application.

Establishing a Design Flow

Depending on the complexity of your FPGA application, you may want to write and compile a program quickly, or you may want to leverage the built-in simulator to debug, test, and verify your code without having to compile every time you make a change. The following graphic outlines one recommended FPGA design flow that begins with evaluating your system requirements and ends with deploying your system.