20.2.2.3.2 MSS To/From Fabric Interface Controllers

Using the MSS to/from Fabric Interface Controllers tab, any combination of FIC_0, FIC_1, FIC_2, and FIC_3 can be enabled and configured to support initiator and target interfaces. For more information, see the PolarFire SoC FPGA MSS Technical Reference Manual .

FIC_0, FIC_1, and FIC_2 support AXI4 interfaces, while FIC_3 supports APB.

For FIC_0 and FIC_1 interfaces, both initiator and target interfaces can be enabled at the same time. FIC_2 interface can support only target interface, and FIC_3 interface can only support initiator interface (MSS is initiator).

FIC_0 and FIC_1 have both initiator and target interfaces to and from the FPGA fabric, while FIC_2 and FIC_3 support target or initiator interfaces, respectively.

The Jitter Range for the Embedded DLLs can be selected in the Fabric Interface Controller tab. The Embedded DLL Jitter Range drop-down has the following options:

  • Low
  • Medium Low
  • Medium High
  • High
Important: The default selection is Medium Low.

The following figure shows all FIC options available and enabled. By default, the DLLs of all the FICs are enabled.

Figure 20-16. MSS to/from Fabric Interface Controllers Tab.
Important: The FIC interface can operate up to 250 MHz. The FIC clock is independent of the MSS clock. If the frequency of the FIC block is greater than or equal to 125 MHz, the embedded DLL must be enabled to remove the clock insertion delay. If the frequency of the FIC block is less than 125 MHz, the embedded DLL must be bypassed.

When an initiator interface is enabled for a FIC, that initiator interface must be connected to a target in the fabric. When a target interface is enabled for an FIC, that target interface must be connected to an initiator in the fabric.

There is a clock domain crossing logic in the FIC block to address the asynchronous MSS and Fabric clocks and therefore, user logic is not required to implement clock domain crossing synchronization for this interface.

Figure 20-17. FIC Interfaces Enabled
Note: The MSS SmartDesign component is visible only after importing the MSS CXZ file.