bidirectional connection between two bidirectional ports

Hello,
I am using an Altera MAX3000A CPLD to make level conversion from 5V-TTL to
3.3V-TTL (and further jobs...).
My problem is - I can't connect two bidirectional ports directly to get a
bidirectional connection.
I'm using Altera Quartus II, a direct connection produces an error message
and a simple VHDL-block doesn't solve the problem, too.
my VHDL-code is like:
ENTITY ...
port1 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
port2 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
ARCHITECTURE...
port1 <= port2;
port2 <= port1;

How can I make a bidirectional connection between two bidirectional ports???
thanks, Manfred

Manfred Balik

Manfred Balik schrieb:

> Hello,
> I am using an Altera MAX3000A CPLD to make level conversion from 5V-TTL to
> 3.3V-TTL (and further jobs...).
> My problem is - I can't connect two bidirectional ports directly to get a
> bidirectional connection.
> I'm using Altera Quartus II, a direct connection produces an error message
> and a simple VHDL-block doesn't solve the problem, too.
> my VHDL-code is like:
> ENTITY ...
> port1 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> port2 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> ARCHITECTURE...
> port1 <= port2;
> port2 <= port1;
>
> How can I make a bidirectional connection between two bidirectional ports???
> thanks, Manfred

it's not possible.
it would require an analog switching element being used to connect
those 2 io pins.

depending on the protocol that is used there may or may not be a
solution that can be implemented in full digitial domain.

Antti

Antti

Manfred Balik wrote:
> Hello,
> I am using an Altera MAX3000A CPLD to make level conversion from 5V-TTL to
> 3.3V-TTL (and further jobs...).
> My problem is - I can't connect two bidirectional ports directly to get a
> bidirectional connection.
> I'm using Altera Quartus II, a direct connection produces an error message
> and a simple VHDL-block doesn't solve the problem, too.
> my VHDL-code is like:
> ENTITY ...
> port1 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> port2 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> ARCHITECTURE...
> port1 <= port2;
> port2 <= port1;
>
> How can I make a bidirectional connection between two bidirectional ports???
> thanks, Manfred
You need to put a bit more thought into what it is that you're really
trying to do. Let's say your code compiled and you now wanted to
instantate the component somewhere. That code would look like this...

U1 : entity work.Mans_Entity port map(
port1 => Sig1,
port2 => Sig2);

Where 'Sig1' and 'Sig2' are the 'two' busses or signals that you're
trying to connect. But in your code you implied (to me) that you'd
like to take whatever comes in on either port and map it over to the
other....which would then mean that logically 'Sig1' and 'Sig2' are the
same thing and not separate things (i.e. one is the 5V side, the other
is the 3.3V side)....which is a contradiction...which fundamentally is
why what you have isn't working.

What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
enabled...

port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';

KJ

KJ

KJ schrieb:

> Manfred Balik wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am using an Altera MAX3000A CPLD to make level conversion from 5V-TTL to
> > 3.3V-TTL (and further jobs...).
> > My problem is - I can't connect two bidirectional ports directly to get a
> > bidirectional connection.
> > I'm using Altera Quartus II, a direct connection produces an error message
> > and a simple VHDL-block doesn't solve the problem, too.
> > my VHDL-code is like:
> > ENTITY ...
> > port1 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> > port2 : INOUT STD_LOGIC;
> > ARCHITECTURE...
> > port1 <= port2;
> > port2 <= port1;
> >
> > How can I make a bidirectional connection between two bidirectional ports???
> > thanks, Manfred
> You need to put a bit more thought into what it is that you're really
> trying to do. Let's say your code compiled and you now wanted to
> instantate the component somewhere. That code would look like this...
>
> U1 : entity work.Mans_Entity port map(
> port1 => Sig1,
> port2 => Sig2);
>
> Where 'Sig1' and 'Sig2' are the 'two' busses or signals that you're
> trying to connect. But in your code you implied (to me) that you'd
> like to take whatever comes in on either port and map it over to the
> other....which would then mean that logically 'Sig1' and 'Sig2' are the
> same thing and not separate things (i.e. one is the 5V side, the other
> is the 3.3V side)....which is a contradiction...which fundamentally is
> why what you have isn't working.
>
> What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
> both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
> enabled...
>
> port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
>
> KJ

KJ

bidir connections between to io's are sometimes possible also when
no enable signal exists, see NXP's I2C extender as one example

http://www.nxp.com/pip/PCA9515DP.html

Antti

Antti

Antti wrote:
> >
> > What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
> > both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
> > enabled...
> >
> > port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
> >
> > KJ
>
> KJ
>
> bidir connections between to io's are sometimes possible also when
> no enable signal exists, see NXP's I2C extender as one example
>
> http://www.nxp.com/pip/PCA9515DP.html

Yes, and an even simpler example of a bi-directional connection between
two I/Os with no enable or direction signal is a resistor.

Since I wasn't quite sure exactly what the original poster was trying
to do, I mentioned "What you probably need...." on the assumption that
he is trying to come up with synthesizable code targetting some
FPGA/CPLD or such (in which case I believe he will be needing the
enable).

If instead the poster was interested in a non-synthesizable simulation
model that connects two things bi-directionally without a 'direction'
or 'enable' signal (i.e. like a resistor or the part you linked) than
he will be wanting a different code entirely.

KJ

KJ

Thanks to KJ and Antti for your prompt answers!!!

I see - I will need a enable signal for each direction, because I want a
synthesizable code not a simulation (I thought this is easy, just a
connection ).

the PCA9515 is a really nice bidirectional level converter, but I think he
has a enable signal, too. Not a external direction signal, but internally
generated out of weak low (the output of the PCA9515) and hard low (if the
input is low).

Manfred

"KJ" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news: oups.com...
>
> Antti wrote:
>> >
>> > What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
>> > both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
>> > enabled...
>> >
>> > port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
>> >
>> > KJ
>>
>> KJ
>>
>> bidir connections between to io's are sometimes possible also when
>> no enable signal exists, see NXP's I2C extender as one example
>>
>> http://www.nxp.com/pip/PCA9515DP.html
>
> Yes, and an even simpler example of a bi-directional connection between
> two I/Os with no enable or direction signal is a resistor.
>
> Since I wasn't quite sure exactly what the original poster was trying
> to do, I mentioned "What you probably need...." on the assumption that
> he is trying to come up with synthesizable code targetting some
> FPGA/CPLD or such (in which case I believe he will be needing the
> enable).
>
> If instead the poster was interested in a non-synthesizable simulation
> model that connects two things bi-directionally without a 'direction'
> or 'enable' signal (i.e. like a resistor or the part you linked) than
> he will be wanting a different code entirely.
>
> KJ
>

Manfred Balik

Manfred Balik schrieb:

> Thanks to KJ and Antti for your prompt answers!!!
>
> I see - I will need a enable signal for each direction, because I want a
> synthesizable code not a simulation (I thought this is easy, just a
> connection ).
>
> the PCA9515 is a really nice bidirectional level converter, but I think he
> has a enable signal, too. Not a external direction signal, but internally
> generated out of weak low (the output of the PCA9515) and hard low (if the
> input is low).
>
> Manfred
>
> "KJ" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news: oups.com...
> >
> > Antti wrote:
> >> >
> >> > What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
> >> > both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
> >> > enabled...
> >> >
> >> > port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
> >> >
> >> > KJ
> >>
> >> KJ
> >>
> >> bidir connections between to io's are sometimes possible also when
> >> no enable signal exists, see NXP's I2C extender as one example
> >>
> >> http://www.nxp.com/pip/PCA9515DP.html
> >
> > Yes, and an even simpler example of a bi-directional connection between
> > two I/Os with no enable or direction signal is a resistor.
> >
> > Since I wasn't quite sure exactly what the original poster was trying
> > to do, I mentioned "What you probably need...." on the assumption that
> > he is trying to come up with synthesizable code targetting some
> > FPGA/CPLD or such (in which case I believe he will be needing the
> > enable).
> >
> > If instead the poster was interested in a non-synthesizable simulation
> > model that connects two things bi-directionally without a 'direction'
> > or 'enable' signal (i.e. like a resistor or the part you linked) than
> > he will be wanting a different code entirely.
> >
> > KJ
> >

the PCA9515 was just an example reference. it is not generic bidir
buffer - such thing is not possible by definition. PCA9515 is somwehat
'protocol aware' and can be used as if it would be transparent bidir
buffer for the constrained use of the I2C bus.

sometimes similar bidirectional buffer is possible to be implemented in
PLD or FPGA or MCU also, but it always needs some 'protocol awareness'
and some timing reference to avoid self-lockup.

Antti

Antti

Manfred Balik schrieb:
> Thanks to KJ and Antti for your prompt answers!!!
>
> I see - I will need a enable signal for each direction, because I want a
> synthesizable code not a simulation (I thought this is easy, just a
> connection ).

Actually you only need a direction signal if it is ok that one side is
allways enabled. Make sure that all external drivers on a signal are
enable when the CPLD is driving the signal.


As a side note:
You probably do not need a level converter at all.
3.3V TTL outputs are fully 5V TTL compliant because 5V TTL only requires
the outputs to be driven to 2.4V.
You only need protection against 5V signals damaging the 3.3V device.
If the signals are driven by real TTL logic that means that in many
cases you need no protection at all because TTL drivers are very week
above 3.3V. In other cases a series resistor will do the job.

Kolja Sulimma

Kolja Sulimma

I changed my design to (like Antti suggested):
port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
port2 <= port1 when (port2_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
but this doesn't work in Altera Quartus Simulation ((
the output at port1 and port2 shows "Z" when enabled and otherwise "Unknown"
Is this just an malfunction of Quartus Simulation???? and will it work in
real hardware (Altera MAX3000A)???

Manfred

"Antti" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news: ups.com...
> Manfred Balik schrieb:
>
>> Thanks to KJ and Antti for your prompt answers!!!
>>
>> I see - I will need a enable signal for each direction, because I want a
>> synthesizable code not a simulation (I thought this is easy, just a
>> connection ).
>>
>> the PCA9515 is a really nice bidirectional level converter, but I think
>> he
>> has a enable signal, too. Not a external direction signal, but internally
>> generated out of weak low (the output of the PCA9515) and hard low (if
>> the
>> input is low).
>>
>> Manfred
>>
>> "KJ" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
>> news: oups.com...
>> >
>> > Antti wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > What you probably need to add is the concept of an output enable for
>> >> > both port1 and port2 and only drive the outputs when that output is
>> >> > enabled...
>> >> >
>> >> > port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
>> >> >
>> >> > KJ
>> >>
>> >> KJ
>> >>
>> >> bidir connections between to io's are sometimes possible also when
>> >> no enable signal exists, see NXP's I2C extender as one example
>> >>
>> >> http://www.nxp.com/pip/PCA9515DP.html
>> >
>> > Yes, and an even simpler example of a bi-directional connection between
>> > two I/Os with no enable or direction signal is a resistor.
>> >
>> > Since I wasn't quite sure exactly what the original poster was trying
>> > to do, I mentioned "What you probably need...." on the assumption that
>> > he is trying to come up with synthesizable code targetting some
>> > FPGA/CPLD or such (in which case I believe he will be needing the
>> > enable).
>> >
>> > If instead the poster was interested in a non-synthesizable simulation
>> > model that connects two things bi-directionally without a 'direction'
>> > or 'enable' signal (i.e. like a resistor or the part you linked) than
>> > he will be wanting a different code entirely.
>> >
>> > KJ
>> >
>
> the PCA9515 was just an example reference. it is not generic bidir
> buffer - such thing is not possible by definition. PCA9515 is somwehat
> 'protocol aware' and can be used as if it would be transparent bidir
> buffer for the constrained use of the I2C bus.
>
> sometimes similar bidirectional buffer is possible to be implemented in
> PLD or FPGA or MCU also, but it always needs some 'protocol awareness'
> and some timing reference to avoid self-lockup.
>
> Antti
>

Manfred Balik

Manfred Balik wrote:

> I changed my design to (like Antti suggested):
> port1 <= port2 when (port1_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
> port2 <= port1 when (port2_output_enable = '1') else 'Z';
> but this doesn't work in Altera Quartus Simulation ((
> the output at port1 and port2 shows "Z" when enabled and otherwise
> "Unknown" Is this just an malfunction of Quartus Simulation???? and
> will it work in real hardware (Altera MAX3000A)???

When setting for example port1_output_enable='1' and
port2_output_enable/='1', something else should drive port2. Either
your testbench or another part of the design. This driver should be
tri-stated if port2_output_enable='1' and driven by some source if
port2_output_enable/='1'.

Just draw the diagram of these drivers with their enable signals, and
see how you must control the enable signals to avoid contention (i.e.
driving to strong values on a signal).

--
Paul.

Paul Uiterlinden