A modularized FPGA-based embedded system development platform

With the ever increasing complexity of System-on-a-chip (SoC) and the pressures of short time-to-market and low cost requirements, the platform-based design paradigms have been commonly used for SoC designs. Modular and flexible design becomes very important features for enhancing expandability and re-configurability of the system. The embedded system focuses on specific application instead of general processing. This paper presents a modularized FPGA-based embedded system platform for digital photo frame application. The open source processor core, LEON3, is employed. A new peripheral, touch panel module, which was not supported by the Leon3 GRLIB library, is introduced for this application.