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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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13 years ago

configuration device

Hello.

I am new to FPFA world and i am trying to understand whats is AP mode and AS mode in

cyclone4 ?

How i set this mode with hardware or software and witch mode i will need for user stand

alone application .

Another thing why i need configuration device and what is it?

and what difference between just using flash

memory with i/o pins or using dedicated pins for configuration device

Thx.

8 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    i couldn't make you any help in the moment and I also want to lear how to work on this device.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    Thx. i hope u will help me another thing if i use my flash without any dedicated pins for

    configuration device and then i want to remote update is it possibly with my flash device ?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    AS and AP mode refer to the type of flash device used for configuration. As the FPGA has only SRAM, you need a flash to store it's configuration, that will be downloaded during power up. AP refers to a parallel flash and AS to a serial one. AP mode is faster but requires more pins from the FPGA. IF you also use the flash from software, both type can also be used. With a parallel Flash you can execute the code directly from the flash, whereas with a serial one you need a bootloader that will copy the application into RAM.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    Could u help me can i use configuration device and also be able to program my cyclon via jtag if i want too. and also i wanna be able to program configuration device thru jatag or micro .

    i seen at handbook how to configure each mode but how i combine them?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    You can always combine JTAG with any other configuration method. Just connect your configuration device to the correct dedicated pins, and configure the MSEL pins for that configuration scheme. IF you use the JTAG pins at the same time then JTAG will take priority and will let you configure and communicate with the FPGA.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    Hello.

    I am trying to find pin out for configuration device EPCS128 but all i find is general descriotion

    of functionality but no dedicated data sheet for it with all pins and pcb foot print were can i find it?

    Thx.