De2-115 windows application to control Cyclone chip

Thank you,

Can I do this without SOCP builder? - do I have any interuction with the JTAG (internal Jtag of altera)?, Also I would like to do so with VHDL, is this possible without SOCP builder?

Does any one have any source file (VHDL) eaxmple that I can use for this?

Also if I use UART command, isn't it possible to transfer data to DLL (I guess FTDI DLL) through Visual C or C sharp?

Thanks,

Roee

Everything is possible, but using JTAG directly isn't documented so you are on your own and must reverse engineer a lot. I really think learning to use SOPC Builder / QSys and system console would me a more productive use of your time ;)

You can find a tutorial here: http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial (thanks Dave for reminding me about this tutorial in another thread!)

For very simple tests (LEDs, buttons) you just need to use PIO components. For more complex interfaces or modules, you can write your own VHDL code and integrate it as a custom component in your SOPC design.

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Everything is possible, but using JTAG directly isn't documented so you are on your own and must reverse engineer a lot.

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Altera has documented their SLD Virtual JTAG component;

http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_virtualjtag.pdf‎

and I have documented how to use it in detail here:

http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/~dwh/correlator/pdf/vjtag.pdf

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I really think learning to use SOPC Builder / QSys and system console would me a more productive use of your time ;)

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I agree. The protocol used by the Avalon-MM bridge is documented here:

http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/~dwh/correlator/pdf/altera_jtag_to_avalon_analysis.pdf

http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/~dwh/correlator/pdf/altera_jtag_to_avalon_analysis.zip

You can use that information along with the USB-Blaster protocol

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/urjtag/index.php?title=cable_altera_usb-blaster

To access the FTDI device directly and send JTAG-to-Avalon-MM bytes directly. However, you can also do the same thing using Tcl scripts.

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You can find a tutorial here: http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial (thanks Dave for reminding me about this tutorial in another thread!)

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This is also a good reference :)

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For very simple tests (LEDs, buttons) you just need to use PIO components. For more complex interfaces or modules, you can write your own VHDL code and integrate it as a custom component in your SOPC design.

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Start with the Qsys tutorial and use System Console. Use the Tcl server that comes with that code and access it via C# or whatever language you like.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Guys,

Something I misunderstand,

If I am using JTAG debugger (in Programmer),

I can move bits to JTAG and make CLOCKS and see TDO as I expect,

But when I see TDO=1 => I don't see my green led on board lighting? why is that am I missing something?

Attached my design

Thanks,

Roee

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Something I misunderstand,

If I am using JTAG debugger (in Programmer),

I can move bits to JTAG and make CLOCKS and see TDO as I expect,

But when I see TDO=1 => I don't see my green led on board lighting? why is that am I missing something?

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It does not work because you have not read any of the documentation and understood how the JTAG component works.

The TDO from the SLD_Virtual_JTAG component is *NOT* the same as the external pin. There is multiplexing logic in the SLD_Virtual_JTAG component. You need to issue JTAG commands to select your component first. The vjtag.pdf document contains example Tcl code and SignalTap II logic analyzer traces. Add a SignalTap II instance to your design and you will see that TDO will not change until you issue the correct commands.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Dave

I have read part of it :)

I see there is an instruction set, and seen your example

I did do same module as you (I guess this is 6 instructions ?) - of 3 bits

I didn't understand yet how to define them

Also didn't actually succeed to load the TCL tools to read and write to JTAG,

Can you refer me to tools that will work on windows 8 machine?

Do I need to install TCL environment to run the TCL tools?

keep trying (probably will take me few days) ...

Thanks,

Roee

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I have read part of it :)

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There is a lot of information in the references I provided. You will have to read all of it, several times.

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Also didn't actually succeed to load the TCL tools to read and write to JTAG,

Can you refer me to tools that will work on windows 8 machine?

Do I need to install TCL environment to run the TCL tools?

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The documentation tells you everything you need to know.

The quartus_stp and SystemConsole tools must be used to accessing JTAG directly - a general Tcl tool does not have support for Altera JTAG access.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Dave,

While reading your PDF, I have more question:

When you write:

"The Virtual instruction register bus from the Virtual JTAG component was connected to GPIO

bits and to the LEDs (so that Tcl commands can change the LED state)."

This means that I have manually to connect the Virtual Jtag myself to LEDS ?

I guess you mean ir_out[2..0] ?

So I should connect it manually myself?

Also I did not understand how to change Directions - meaning the TDI generally is output of Altera, and just in JTAG mode turns to input? so how should I turn it to input?

Also in the timing diagram you mark TDI-ERROR (what would you expect there?)

When it is in JTAG mode - by TCL commands, this block get automatically clocks and data? (so I don't have to take care about toggling these pins correct?)

So if I have connected my leds correct and gave TCL commands I should see the leds lighting by my input to ir_in[2..0]?

When I connect in my block the ir_out[2..0] to LEDS on board I get an error "missing source signal" like this is input why?

how can I overcome this problem?

Thanks for your help,

When my blocks are ready I will share them to all here

Thanks,

Roee

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While reading your PDF, I have more question:

When you write:

"The Virtual instruction register bus from the Virtual JTAG component was connected to GPIO

bits and to the LEDs (so that Tcl commands can change the LED state)."

This means that I have manually to connect the Virtual Jtag myself to LEDS ?

I guess you mean ir_out[2..0] ?

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Yeah. Instantiate an SLD_Virtual_JTAG component and a SignalTap II instance. Probe the ir_out[] bus and you'll see that it captures your custom instruction LSBs.

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Also I did not understand how to change Directions - meaning the TDI generally is output of Altera, and just in JTAG mode turns to input? so how should I turn it to input?

Also in the timing diagram you mark TDI-ERROR (what would you expect there?)

When it is in JTAG mode - by TCL commands, this block get automatically clocks and data? (so I don't have to take care about toggling these pins correct?)

So if I have connected my leds correct and gave TCL commands I should see the leds lighting by my input to ir_in[2..0]?

Thanks for your help,

When my blocks are ready I will share them to all here

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I'll dig up my example code and post it. It'll be much easier for you to use a working example.

Cheers,

Dave