Connecting multiple usb peripherals to a FPGA

Question

I want to connect a USB peripherals to a FPGA. Basically FPGA should act like an USB host. Is there a FPGA board support a USB hub so that one could connect multiple(upto 4) USB peripherals at a time. I have a Digilent Nexys3 fpga which is based on Spartan 6. It supports only one USB device (keyboard or mouse). It doesn't support a hub. I have found Cypress host controllers, but I am not sure how to use it in a FPGA.

Answer 1

You need to have a USB host controller inside your FPGA, such IP is not freely available, one alternative is to use a Zynq based (for Xilinx) or Cyclone V based (for Altera) board. Those have integrated USB controllers connected to their dual ARM core.

You can find more info about those at:

• Altera Cyclone V
• Xilinx Zynq

You maybe able to use an external host controller but then you have to connect it to your FPGA and that is usually requires a lot of IOs and those modules are more expensive than buying a Zed board ($395) or Cyclone V board ($450).