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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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15 years ago

Bemicro NIOS lockup on EPCS access

Hello,

I have installed the EPCS flash on my Bemicro and set the jumper accordingly. I can load an FPGA design into the EPCS using the Quartus Programmer and have it load successfully, so the EPCS and jumper are correct.

I can run my programs on the NIOS core that loaded from the EPCS, but when I try to program the EPCS with the FPAG image and program, using the Flash Programmer, I get the message: 

Using cable "Arrow-USB-Blaster ", device 1, instance 0x00
Resetting and pausing target processor: FAILED
Leaving target processor paused

After this I can no longer run programs on the NIOS. I have to use Quartus to reprogram the FPGA.

I have taken the system down to its most basic components. The program simply prints "Hello World" continuously. Quartus has the SOPC with connectons to SRAM, the clk, the EPCS, RESET_N held high and some LEDs at constant output.

The SOPC has a NIOS full with level 1 Debugger, the SRAM, JTAG_uart, sysid, PLL, system_timer, EPCS and 1 PIO for the LEDs (not currently used).

I have attached the TCL file that I used to setup the project. In includes some defines for the proto-board.

Can anyone give me a clue as to what is going on?

Thanks,

Jeff

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    I created my own SPI controller (bit-banging) and mux'ed it with the EPCS. I am able to access the EPCS flash and read the ID without a problem. So, this problem isn't related to part assembly or FPGA pinout.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    I have also accessed the flash using the EPCS peripheral inside of a program without a problem.

    It looks like the only time I have a problem is when using the Flash Programmer.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    I couldn't get the Nios IDE to flash the epcs either. It complains that it can't halt/reset the processor. As a matter of fact, even using the quartus programmer to flash a jic file didn't work... some error about the id.

    Programatically through the HAL, however, the Nios sees the epcs with no problems... I'm betting I could probably flash it that way, but if anyone has done it through the Nios IDE it would be nice to have confirmation that at least it CAN be done!
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    amilcar,

    Thank you. I switched to 9.1 SP2 and it works now. I had to place "jtag_hw_arrow_usb_blaster.dll" in "C:\altera\91sp2\quartus\bin" for the programmer to detect the cable.

    However, the normal USB-Blaster will NOT work with the DLL in place. I had to change the extension of the DLL to disable it before the USB-Blaster works.

    --Jeff