GPIF II Designer - Quick Start Guide
1. Introduction
Welcome to GPIF II Designer - a software tool to configure the processor port of EZ-USB FX3 to
connect to any external device. This application generates programmable register values in the
form of a “C” program header file that can be readily integrated with the firmware application code
using the FX3 firmware API framework. GPIF II Designer also provides a set of readily usable
designs of standard and popular interfaces. The user can modify few parameters of such designs
to customize the predefined design to suit to the users target environment. A state machine
simulator displays the timing of the implemented interface.
GPIF II Designer is part of the FX3 Software Development Kit. This document provides a quick
start guide for using GPIF II Designer.
2. Installation
GPIF II Designer is delivered as part of FX3 Software Development Kit. Download
FX3SDKSetup.exe (Please contact your Cypress Marketing representative to get the latest
version).
To install:
1. Run FX3SDKSetup.exe. Specify the Destination Path and click [Next].
2. Follow instructions and click [Next] till the last window with [Finish]. The user can select the
type of installation. Typical installation installs FX3 firmware framework with documentation,
Eclipse, GPIF II Designer, and USB Suite for 32 bit. The user can select the required
software using the Custom type of Installation.
3. Default path of installation for GPIF II Designer executable is at C:\Program
Files\Cypress\EZ-USB FX3 SDK\1.0\bin.
3. Starting the Application
After the Installation, GPIF II designer application can be started from the Cypress folder on the
Programs menu, that is, Click Start > All Programs > Cypress > GPIF II Designer > GPIF II
Designer. This brings up the Welcome (start) page of GPIF II Designer as shown in Figure 1.
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GPIF II Designer – Quick Start Guide
Figure 1. GPIF II Designer Start Page
4. Using a Cypress Supplied Interface
GPIF II Designer provides a library of standard and popular Interfaces that can be readily used.
These specially parameterized and predefined Interfaces are known as Cypress supplied
Interfaces. One of the Cypress supplied Interface listed on the start page can be selected if it
matches the target interface requirements.
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GPIF II Designer – Quick Start Guide
Figure 2. Start Page Showing Cypress Supplied Interfaces
The start page provides links to open Cypress supplied Interfaces. The user can click on the
Interface to create a copy of the interface project for use. A graphical interface will prompt the
user to enter a folder location of choice to copy the project as shown in Figure 2. Enter a name for
the project and the location on disk.
Once the project is created, the Interface customization window is displayed. This window
provides a graphical view of the P-port external interface. The left pane shows the available
customizations for the Interface opened as shown Figure 3.
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Figure 3. Interface Customization Page
User can modify the parameters listed on left pane. Also for some of the signals the GPIO
assignment can be modified by clicking on the GPIO label on the FX3.
5. Designing a GPIF II Interface
The user can define the required interface on the processor port of FX3 by entering a state
machine. One can start a new project or use one of the example projects and modify. To create a
new project, use the “New Project” command from the File menu. Enter a name for the project
and select the location of the project to be saved on disk.
Figure 4. New Project Dialog Box
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GPIF II Designer – Quick Start Guide
Once the project is created the Interface Definition Window is displayed. Enter the Interface
Settings using the left pane menus. Use function key - F1 to popup detailed help.
Figure 5. Interface Definition Window
The Interface Definition Window allows users to define the I/O level external interface. The central
pane of this window displays the graphical view of the FX3 P-port interface. All settings related to
Interface are arranged with selectable options on the left pane. It is recommended to complete
the Interface definition settings before drawing the state machine diagram.
The graphical view of FX3 external interface displays the input and output signals along with the
address data bus based on the selections made by the user on the left pane. The user can
double click on the signal line to bring a dialog box to configure the signal settings. Each signal
can be assigned with a user defined alpha numeric name string. The tool automatically assigns
an available GPIO to each signal. This assignment of a GPIO to a signal can also be modified by
double clicking on the signal. The pin (GPIO) assignment to each signal also can be modified by
clicking on each the GPIO label provided along with the signal. Note that signals with special
functions can be modified.
After defining the Interface move to the state machine canvas using the tab on top left part of the
centre pane. Add states from “Add State” command from the menu displayed with the right click
of mouse. Populate each state with required actions from the menu on the right pane. Draw
transitions between states and define the transition equation by double clicking on the transition
line.
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Figure 6. State Machine Canvas
After defining the interface using the state machine use the "Build Project" command to generate
the code that can be integrated to the FX3 firmware application. Code is generated a "C" header
file under the project folder. The header file by default is named cyfxgpif2config.h, which can be
modified using the "Build Settings" command on the "Build" menu.
6. State Machine Simulation to View Timing Diagram
GPIF II Designer converts the state machine diagram (along with the interface settings) entered
by the user to an Interface implementation of the processor port of FX3. The state machine thus
corresponds to a digital signal interface. The relative timing of the signals will be definite and can
be represented as a timing diagram. The relative timing of the input and output signals of a state
machine implementation can be simulated in the form a timing diagram using the Timing Window.
Follow these steps to perform timing analysis:
1. Complete the Interface settings and state machine diagram. The project should be buildable
without errors.
2. Select the state machine path to simulate timing and save it as Timing Scenario. The toolbar
icon to create Timing Scenario is provided on the top strip of the Timing Window. The user
can enter a unique name to identify the scenario. A path of the state machine can be
traversed by selecting the state names appearing on the menu provided.
3. Load a timing scenario from the list. The list of saved timing scenarios is available for load on
the top pane of the Timing window. The input and output signals are displayed with the
minimum setup and hold time requirements as per the state machine implementation.
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Figure 7. Timing Display Using State Machine Simulator
7. Integrating the Generated Header File
The generated header file contains data structures that are compliant with the EZ-USB FX3
firmware framework API. The user needs to copy the generated header file into the firmware
application folder and include it in the source file. The firmware application needs to call
appropriate GPIF II APIs to load and start the state machine.
A sample code snippet that configures the GPIF II interface is shown as follows.
/* Load the configuration into the GPIF registers. CyFxGpifConfig is
defined in the GPIF II designer generated header file. GpifProjName
will be replaced by the name of the users GPIF II Project name */
status = CyU3PGpifLoad (&GpifProjName_CyFxGpifConfig);
if (status != CY_U3P_SUCCESS)
return status;
/* Start the operation of the GPIF II state machine. Both
GPIFPROJNAME_START and GPIFPROJNAME_ALPHA_START are defined in the
header file. */
status = CyU3PGpifSMStart (GPIFPROJNAME_START,
GPIFPROJNAME_ALPHA_START);
if (status != CY_U3P_SUCCESS)
return status;
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8. Getting Help
A comprehensive user manual explaining the usage of the tool is available on “..\GPIFII
Designer\documentation” folder under the installation folder (by default the installation folder is
C:\Program Files\Cypress\). A context sensitive help is available from the tool. The context
sensitive help provides information on tool usage as well as on interfacing with the FX3 firmware.
A help topic corresponding to the window on focus can be launched by pressing the function key
[F1]. The help pages launched can be navigated as follows:
Use the Contents tab to view all of the help topics in a structured table of contents
Select Topics from the Help menu to open this help system
Use the Index tab to find and view key topics alphabetically
Use the Search tab to find specific topics by keywords
© Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, 2012. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation assumes no responsibility for the use of any circuitry other than circuitry embodied in a Cypress product. Nor does it convey or imply any
license under patent or other rights. Cypress products are not warranted nor intended to be used for medical, life support, life saving, critical control or
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inclusion of Cypress products in life-support systems application implies that the manufacturer assumes all risk of such use and in doing so indemnifies
Cypress against all charges.
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Disclaimer: CYPRESS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT
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right to make changes without further notice to the materials described herein. Cypress does not assume any liability arising out of the application or
use of any product or circuit described herein. Cypress does not authorize its products for use as critical components in life-support systems where a
malfunction or failure may reasonably be expected to result in significant injury to the user. The inclusion of Cypress’ product in a life-support systems
application implies that the manufacturer assumes all risk of such use and in doing so indemnifies Cypress against all charges.
Use may be limited by and subject to the applicable Cypress software license agreement.
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