How to design a microcontroller using VHDL?

hi,

i am new member in this forum and i just started my project, which is to design a microcontroller using VHDL. Can anyone tell me, what are basic steps to design one microcontroller? I only have basic knowlegde in Microcontroller. My Professor have also spoken about a microcontroller soft-core? Can anyone explain to me what exactly is a soft-core? Waht is it used for? and also, where can i find free soft-cores?
Any response are highly appreciated.Thanx.

Hi welcome to rickey's world....
the basic steps to design a microcontroller is to implement different functional block in a microcontroller like RAM, ROM, I/O Ports, ALU etc.. these care the basic block which is common in any kind of microcontroller...
I am really not sure what soft-core could be.. but as seems from the name.. it could be a software design of a CPU core or something like that..
For reference regarding your project.. you may try visiting this link.. where they have implemented 8051 Microcontroller core on VHDL.
http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~dalton/i8051/
I am sure this will be helpful... You can also try searching google for some "VHDL CPU core model" you might get lot of information needed to give a nice start for your project.
Good Luck

thanx for the reply.i appreciate it!!

you're welcome.. so is that link helpful?

the link is helpful!!thanx again

hi again...

i have already found in the internet vhdl codes of an intel 8085 microprocessor (http://www.aviral.co.uk/8085.html). Right now I am having dificulties in testing the microprocessor. Can anyone tell me step by step on how i should test the microprocessor ex. adding 2 binary numbers or moving one binary number to another register?
Thanx.

don't you have FPGA kits in your lab? you can program or something? i don't know really.. try to mail the person who is giving the codes maybe he can guide you with something?
i really don't know about simulating a VHDL code.. I am sorry i couldn't help..

thanx for the quick reply...i have already sent an email to the author but till now i got no reply from him.
I am not sure whether i should use an assembler to test it or if it is possible to just use Altera Quartus to test it

well as for as i know u can test 8085 core on altera quartus...
but u see they have there own ips (intellectual properties..). if u ask them .. they wud not suggest u to do it...
but since altera supprts almost all vhdl codes... u can test the ip core -85 on it...
try sending a highg at one of io pins...
if thats done the rest is easy...

try sending a highg at one of io pins...
if thats done the rest is easy...

how just sending high on a pin will make everything easy? i am not able to get you.. and which pin to make high? anything specific?