Ethernet Implementation on FPGA

In the existing Medical Linear Accelerator (LINAC) systems with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based control console, most of the subsystems of the LINAC were controlled and monitored using serial communication methods like RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485. Now a days, most of the subsystems or controllers used in the LINAC system support Ethernet communication which has not been implemented in the system as yet. The traditional serial communication methods as mentioned above also have a limitation of data transfer speed. Therefore this paper involves solutions to these two observed problems. Ethernet is a standard way to connect computers on a network over a wired connection. Hence, the objective of this paper is to implement Ethernet based Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) on FPGA based control console for high speed communication with many subsystems of the LINAC system connected using unshielded twisted pair wiring. Thus, this paper will facilitate interoperability between various subsystems of the LINAC connected using the Ethernet protocol. This system is designed in ARTY-7 FPGA and has been implemented using VHDL language.