Block Design & IPs

Using Vivado block design and vendor IPs to build SoC-based FPGA designs.

What is Block Design?

Block design is an alternative way to develop on FPGA. Instead of writing VHDL, you can visually assemble IPs (Intellectual Properties) — functional blocks provided by the vendor or created yourself — and connect them graphically.

Key advantages:

• Connect proprietary protocols (AXI, etc.) easily and visually
• Use vendor-optimized IPs (memories, processors, controllers)
• Simplify connections between blocks in SoC designs

Block designs are especially useful when working with a SoC. To use the CPU, you rely on vendor-provided blocks to communicate with memories and the processor from the FPGA fabric.

Step-by-step Tutorial — ZYNQ Z2

To illustrate how block design works, we will build a simple example: blink LEDs using push buttons on a ZYNQ Z2 board.

This will demonstrate:

1. How to use IPs
2. How a SoC board works

Step 1 & 2 — Create the Vivado Project

Create your Vivado project and select your target board. Refer to the First Vivado Project course if needed.

Step 3 — Create the Block Design

Click "Create block design" and give it a name (e.g. bd).

Step 4 — Add the Processing System

You arrive on a page where you can add IPs. Search for and add the Processing System matching your board (Zynq7 Processing System for the ZYNQ Z2).

You should get this result:

Step 5 — Add GPIO IPs

Right-click → Add IP and search for GPIO. Add two instances: one for LEDs, one for buttons.

In the Block Properties tab, rename the blocks LEDs and BUTTONs for clarity.

Configure the I/O of each block. For BUTTONs, select btns_4bits. Feel free to delete auto-generated outputs and rerun "Run Connection Automation".

Step 6 — Automatic Connection

Click "Run Block Automation" then "Run Connection Automation" and select all. Vivado will automatically connect the blocks.

Step 7 — Add an AXI BRAM

To allow the CPU to access the LEDs and buttons, it needs an AXI memory. Add an AXI BRAM Controller IP and redo step 6.

Step 8 — Create Your Own IP

Our final goal is to create a custom IP to connect LEDs directly to buttons. Clean up the design first.

Step 9 & 10 — Create and Package the IP

Go to Tools → Create and Package new IP. Choose an AXI-Lite Master interface (same as AXI GPIO). Add two instances: one for LEDs, one for buttons. On the last page, click "Edit IP".

Summary

To go further, understanding the AXI protocols is essential. See the AXI Protocol course.