FrontPanel Application
The FrontPanel Application is a graphical user interface available on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems for configuring and communicating with your FrontPanel-enabled device.
The application provides the following functionality:
- Device Enumeration – Listing multiple devices available on your system.
- Device Configuration – Setting device parameters such as Device ID and Device Settings (USB 3.0).
- Device Sensors – Real-time display of Device Sensors for supported devices.
- FPGA Configuration – Instant FPGA configuration via drag and drop.
- Flash and EEPROM Programming – For supported devices, programming the on-board Flash memory or attached peripheral EEPROM.
Additionally, the FrontPanel Application allows you to build basic graphical interfaces to communicate with your device via the Wires, Triggers, and Pipes provided by the FrontPanel SDK. The communication elements are described using a straightforward XML interface.
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About Us
Opal Kelly Incorporated, located in Portland Oregon, provides a range of powerful USB and PCI Express FPGA modules that deliver the critical interconnection between a PC and many electronic devices.
Since 2004, the use of Opal Kelly modules has spread throughout the world – from University research labs and classrooms to some of the largest global commercial firms (and some of the very smallest).
Using Opal Kelly modules, design engineers, college professors, students, researchers, and hobbyists have all been relieved of the time, expense, and reliability concerns of inventing their own PC interconnection.
With extensive expertise in FPGA technology, hardware design, software programming, and embedded systems, Opal Kelly is aware of the problems facing engineers today and is committed to providing solutions that fill the time and expertise gap for efficient interconnect functionality, allowing development teams to focus on core competencies, thereby reducing overall design time and expense and accelerating time-to-market.
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Basic Settings
Front panels with different basic shapes can be created in Front Panel Designer. Dimensions can be entered in mm or inches and in rack units and horizontal pitch units for 19″ systems. Alongside other features, you can choose the material, colors, and edge machining.
Drill holes, Countersinks, Threads
Through holes and blind holes can be made in the front panel. Countersinks and threads can be applied to these holes, according to set standards or customized to your needs.
Rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular cut-outs as well as elongate holes, D-holes and curved slots are available in Front Panel Designer. The edges of these elements can be machined with bevels or radii.
Position circular or rectangular cavities on the front or back of your panel. Cavities with a raised inner surface and edge machining are also possible.
DXF Import
Thanks to the DXF import assistant (File > Import), you can generate your entire front panel directly from your DXF file. Outer contours, drill holes and cut-outs are recognised and can be applied selectively to the FPD file.
Digital Printing
Print files can be imported directly into your front panel design. Supported file formats are: PDF, PNG, TIFF, JPG, BMP, and various print options can be set in the software. We use our own patented UV printing process to ensure a durable, high-quality print.
Text Engraving and Other Engraving Elements
Basic geometric shapes and a large number of fonts are available. In addition to the RAL colors that we keep in stock, we would be happy to procure any color that you need. All engraving elements can also be printed as an alternative to engraving.
HPGL Engraving
Using the HPGL import feature, even complex objects such as graphics, alternative fonts, or your company logo can be engraved onto your front panel.
Threaded Studs and Standoffs
Threaded studs and standoffs can be selected in Front Panel Designer as fastening elements. Standard and heavy-duty versions are available.
Macro Objects
Front Panel Designer contains an extentsive library of macro elements. This includes the right assembly sections for many common plugs, fans, switches and other components.
Thanks to the scale generator, you can create round and straight scales. The scales can be engraved or printed.
Enclosures
The enclosure generation feature included in the software allows you to create all sections of a complete enclosure in a single step. You can design the sections as you wish, and any accessories needed can be added during checkout.
System Holes for Standard 19″ Front Panels
Add the right drill holes for 19″ racks with a single click. System holes for (partial) front panels for systems from the companies Schroff and Fischer are available. When the drill holes are made, the dimensions of the front panel can be adjusted automatically to 19″ horizontal pitch units.
Price Calculation and Order
You can see a detailed itemization of your panel’s cost in Front Panel Designer at any time. You can also request a non-binding quote and place an order directly from the software.
Export to Other File Formats
Export your front panel design as a DXF, STEP, SVG or PDF file.
The 3D view function makes it easier to spot errors and provides a practical first look at your panel.
FrontPanel ®
The FrontPanel SDK dramatically accelerates the development of your FPGA-based USB or PCI Express device by providing three essential components:
Software API and a robust driver to communicate with your device over USB or PCI Express.
Device firmware to manage FPGA configuration and communication.
Small FPGA IP blocks that integrate with your HDL to make host communication simple and easy.
Multi-Platform FrontPanel API and USB Driver
Our robust USB driver and FrontPanel API work together to provide an easy-to-use software interface to your hardware that is consistent across the Windows (32-/64-bit), Linux (32-/64-bit), and Mac OS X development environments.Our PCI Express driver is available for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
And to make things even easier, we provide pre-built wrappers to the FrontPanel API for C, C#, C++, Python, and Java. And the DLL may be used from any of the huge library of software that support external calling such as Matlab and LabVIEW.
FrontPanel Application
Use our stand-alone FrontPanel Application for FPGA and PLL configuration, XML-based Virtual Control Components, firmware updates, general device setup, and more!
The stand-alone FrontPanel Application lets you quickly and easily define your own graphical user interface that communicates with your hardware. FrontPanel supports many basic user interface elements including:
- LEDs
- Hexadecimal displays
- Sliders
- Pushbuttons
- Checkboxes
- Toggle buttons
- Numerical entry
Interactive FrontPanel XFP Scripting
Bring new life to your FrontPanel XFP descriptions with scripting capabilities.
Attach scripts to FrontPanel components to perform event-based computations based on user-input or FPGA communication over wires, triggers, and pipes.
FrontPanel Scripting makes it easy to add business logic to XFP profiles so you can generate interactive interfaces to your hardware faster without having to implement user interfaces using C++ or Python.
Perform preprocessing on numerical entries.
Format outputs for human-readable display.
Evaluate and process data blocks from pipes.
Perform closed-loop processing.
Atomic HDL Modules
The HDL you build into the FPGA constitutes the interface between your instrument and USB. Integrate our intuitive HDL modules into your design and you have a fast, extensible, and simple conduit between your hardware and your software.
Simulation Models
Save hours of development time by specifically targetting components of your design rather than iterating in the dark. Our HDL simulation models describe the behavioral function of the PC to FPGA interaction and work under Xilinx’s iSim, Modelsim, and other HDL simulators.
Custom Interfaces and Test Hardware
FPGA technology is used in a wide variety of in-house prototypes and other custom projects. These types of projects benefit from both FrontPanel’s easy-to-use virtual interface components as well as the convenience and predictability of the FrontPanel programmer’s interface.
For Students and Educators
FrontPanel is perfect for use in many classroom settings. It’s flexible ease-of-use encourages exploration and makes it possible for students to realize their experiments and projects faster.
In structured courses, educators can setup template interfaces in FrontPanel XML, easing the student’s learning curve while standardizing the way students interface, debug, and evaluate their assignments. Later, students can write custom XML interfaces or even write C++, Python, or Java applications.
Technical Specifications and Support
Features & Specifications
- Windows (USB / PCI) API available as DLL (C/C++), C#, Java, Python libraries
- Mac OS X (USB only) API available as universal dynamic library (C/C++), Java, Ruby, Python libraries
- Linux (USB only) API available as shared object (C/C++), Java, Ruby, Python libraries
- QNX Neutrino 6.5.0 (USB / PCI) API available as shared-object (please contact [email protected] for availability).
- Behavioral simulation supported, no back-annotation
- USB 3.0 transfer rates up to 340+ MBps
- USB 2.0 transfer rates up to 38 MBps
- PCIe transfer rates up to 200 MBps
Requirements
- Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
- Mac OS X Version 10.10+, Intel and Apple Silicon
- Linux CentOS 6.5 32-/64-bit (x86 and amd64)
- Linux Ubuntu 16.04LTS 32-/64-bit (x86 and amd64)
- Linux – Many other distributions also known to work with libraries from the two official distributions above.
- Linux ARM targets as available and One-Time Ports available for a fee. If you require official support for ARM targets, please contact [email protected].
- Simulation: Compatible with most VHDL/Verilog simulators
- Opal Kelly FrontPanel-supported device
- Xilinx ISE 14.1i or later recommended for building FPGA configuration files (Spartan-6 and earlier)
- Xilinx Vivado recommended for building FPGA configuration files (7-Series and later)
- Altera Quartus 15.0 or later recommended for building FPGA configuration files (Cyclone IV and later)
При подготовке материала использовались источники:
https://www.frontpanelexpress.com/front-panel-designer