Caravel Board

ChipFoundry - Firmware and hardware support for chipIgnite projects using Caravel.

This repository provides firmware examples, flash programming tools, and diagnostic utilities for testing chipIgnite projects using the Caravel SoC. It also includes schematics, layout files, and Gerber files for PCB evaluation and breakout boards.

chipIgnite Projects

This repository is optimized for chipIgnite shuttle projects. For detailed testing instructions and firmware examples, see the chipIgnite README.

Quick Start

The firmware/chipignite/ directory contains all the tools and examples you need to get started with your chipIgnite project.

Firmware

Requirements

• Python 3.6 or later
• RISC-V toolchain (see installation instructions below)
• USB micro B cable for connecting the evaluation board

Getting Started with chipIgnite

To program your chipIgnite project on Caravel, connect the evaluation board using a USB micro B connector.

pip3 install pyftdi

cd firmware/chipignite/blink

make clean flash

Install Toolchain for Compiling Code

For Mac

https://github.com/riscv/homebrew-riscv

For Linux

https://github.com/riscv/riscv-gnu-toolchain

Diagnostics

ChipFoundry provides diagnostic tools for chipIgnite projects:

• firmware/chipignite/util/caravel_hkflash.py - Programs flash on the board through Caravel's housekeeping SPI interface
• firmware/chipignite/util/caravel_hkdebug.py - Menu-driven debug interface for Caravel via housekeeping SPI

These tools are used automatically by the Makefiles in the firmware project directories.

Hardware

The current evaluation board for Caravel can be found here

• The clock is driven by X1 with a frequency of 10MHz. To drive the clock with custom frequency, disable X1 through J6 and use the external pin for xclk
• The voltage regulator U5 and U6 supply 1.8V and 3.3V through J8 and J9. The traces have to be cut if they are supplied externally.
• vccd1 is connected to 1.8V through J3. The trace has to be cut if it is supplied externally
• vddio is connected to 3.3V through J5. The trace has to be cut if it is supplied externally

The most updated breakout board for Caravel can be found here

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ChipFoundry - Enabling chipIgnite projects with Caravel SoC support.

For more information, visit ChipFoundry on GitHub.