Dev board FAQ
Questions we get about Mercury boards, from what an FPGA is to how shipping works.
Concepts
What is an FPGA?
An FPGA (field-programmable gate array) is a programmable logic device: an array of interconnected logic cells that you can configure to implement almost any digital function. It’s a blank slate for your own hardware designs, whether that’s a custom CPU, a digital signal processor or a robot vision system.
How is it different from a microcontroller?
A microcontroller has fixed hardware: a CPU with a defined instruction set. You program it by telling it what to do. With an FPGA, you tell it what to become.
That gives you a lot of power and flexibility. An FPGA can implement special-purpose processors that are orders of magnitude faster than a microcontroller at one task, like signal processing or encryption. It’s also flexible about I/O. A microcontroller might have four hardware timer channels on specific pins; an FPGA could put one on every I/O pin.
Using your board
How do I write code for an FPGA?
You describe hardware, usually in a hardware description language such as VHDL or Verilog. They look like procedural languages (Ada and C, respectively), but you’re describing a structure, not a process. A for loop in C runs code several times; a for loop in VHDL creates several copies of a circuit. It takes some getting used to, and it’s very powerful once it clicks.
How do I compile my code?
Your design is synthesized into a bitstream that configures the FPGA. For Mercury 2, use AMD Vivado, which is free for the Artix-7 parts on the board and includes simulation and timing analysis tools. The original Mercury uses Xilinx ISE. See Resources for install guides.
How do I load my design onto the board?
The FPGA’s configuration memory is RAM-based, so it starts blank at every power-on. There are two ways to load a bitstream:
- Write it to flash over USB with the Mercury 2 programmer. Flashing takes 2 to 30 seconds, and the FPGA boots from flash in about 200 ms every time it powers up, so your design persists.
- Load it directly over JTAG. This doesn’t persist through a power cycle, but JTAG is needed for some advanced debugging tools.
How do I insert and remove the board from a breadboard?
Hold the board by all four corners and keep it level, pushing or pulling straight up or down. Tilting it can bend or break pins.
Orders and shipping
The answers in this section describe the current Squarespace store and will change with the move to Shopify.
What payment options do you accept?
Our store takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, and ships to the United States, Canada, Australia and many European countries.
Do you offer educational discounts?
Yes. Students, faculty and staff at qualifying higher-education institutions get 20% off personal purchases of our development tools. Email edu@micro-nova.com from your .edu address to request a discount code.
What are the shipping options?
United States
| Service | Speed | Cost | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail | 1–3 days | $6 | 1–2 boards | Tracking included |
| USPS Priority Mail | 1–3 days | $14 | 3 or more boards | Tracking, signature confirmation and insurance |
International
| Service | Speed | Cost | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First Class International | 1–3 weeks, typical | $14 | 1–2 boards | Limited tracking, not insured |
| USPS Express International (EMS) | 1–2 weeks, typical | $59 | Any | Fully tracked and insured |
| FedEx International | Under 1 week, typical | $99 | Any | Fully tracked and insured, faster customs |
Can I track my shipment?
All US shipments are fully tracked, and so are international shipments by USPS Express International, FedEx or UPS. USPS First Class International is tracked within the US; after that, tracking depends on the destination country’s postal service.
Can you bill my FedEx or UPS account?
Yes, for US and Canadian customers. At checkout, use the code BILL-FEDEX or BILL-UPS, and put your account number and shipping method in the order notes.
What should I know about international shipping?
- You may owe customs duties when the package arrives. They aren’t included in the price, and unpaid packages can be returned to us.
- Most international orders arrive within two weeks, but customs can add delays.
- We ship in accordance with US export laws and can’t ship to sanctioned countries.
Support
Do your products come with a warranty?
Yes. We guarantee our products against manufacturing defects for 90 days from purchase. We test every board before it ships, but if you think yours has a defect, contact us and an engineer will help diagnose it.
My question isn’t here
Try Resources for manuals and tutorials, or contact us.