ScholarWorks@GVSU

Wireless Communication between FPGA and Microcontroller

This project offers a new method to the design and implementation of wireless communication between an FPGA device and a microcontroller. Wireless Bluetooth communication is utilized, as the Bluetooth modules are low-cost compared to other wireless modules and provide easy interfacing with both the FPGA and microcontroller. FPGAs have a higher parallel processing ability and can accomplish very precisely timed continuous and simultaneous tasks. This is done using the UART protocol, as a means to exchange the data. With these predominant abilities, FPGAs can be crafted into a central unit for processing. By using the FPGA to take on some of the processing tasks, it improves system performance and frees up the MCU from cycle-intensive tasks. In this display of wireless communication, the microcontroller and sensors are mounted remotely. Communication between the microcontroller and FPGA is attained through Bluetooth, which operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency. UART protocol is utilized for interfacing the Bluetooth module with both the microcontroller and FPGA. As FPGAs do not have any dedicated logic to communicate with microcontrollers, a UART module was designed and implemented with an FPGA using a state machine design.