I'm having a rather odd problem and I was wondering whether anyone else has experienced it. I'm using an M25P40 serial prom with an EP2C20. Standard setup, in fact we reused the schematics from a previous project and repinned the FPGA. The only difference is that it's a Cyclone II instead of a Cyclone part. We've only built 4 boards and they are all flakey. The problem is that the proms are mysteriously unprogramming themselves during normal operation. That is, the Cyclone II won't configure until the prom is reprogrammed. Sometimes the serial prom can't be reprogrammed and must be replaced. Any ideas? Thanks for your help. Leslie

Maybe because Altera only officially supports its own low cost serial configuration devices... why don't you use an EPCS device from Altera instead. You haven't provided a lot of details about your configuration scheme so it's hard to make any suggestions to you about things to try. Are you using passive or active? Sounds like active. Then you are clearly using a serial PROM that isn't supported. Try these documents http://www.altera.com/literature/hb/cfg/cfg_cf51001.pdf http://www.altera.com/literature/hb/cyc2/cyc2_cii51013.pdf

Thanks for the quick reply. What, you don't read minds? ;) The serial config device is set up for AS programming. Both MSEL tied low on the Cyclone II and a separate JTAG connector. Wiring, pull-up and pull-down resistors are all correct. Switching to the Altera part was my first guess, too. Not sure why we are using the other in the first place. I fired off an email suggesting the EPCS4 at about the same time as I wrote the first post about my problem. I had read the documents you listed - and read them carefully hoping I'd overlooked some tiny detail. Nada. It's odd only because we've used the M25P40 in the exact same circuit on several designs without a problem. I'll post a follow-up after the boards come back from the field and I can actually look at one.

Hi, I also use an ST M25P40 SPI flash with an EP2C8 in AS scheme, this without any problem. Did you check M25P40 SPI lines during normal operation (I mean after configuration) ? Maybe the M25P40 is chip selected in an unexpected way. Also ensure that M25P40 CS pin is pullup'ed. See M25P40 ST specs about power-on/power-down behaviour. Hope this will help :) .

Hi, Is it possible to see any schematic of EP2c8 with ST M25P40? As I can see from datasheets CPLD is necessary to use this combination or am I wrong? Thanks Primoz

We use here the M25P40 Devices with the EP2C8 without any problems on some hundreds of boards. So I think there is something wrong with the wiring of the Pins on your boards. Do you have access to the JTAG pins of the Cyclone II? So you can try to program the M25P40 using a *.jic Files via JTAG(Quartus II -> File -> Convert Programming Files) Christian

Cyclone II Serial Config | Altera Community

41 Replies

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
Ok, at least I'm not alone :D
You don't have a M25P16 or M25P64 by the hand? So you could test if they are working...
Would be interesting. If you have the time ;)

Regards
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
I´m quiet sure that they will also work.

I have no other flash devic by the hand...

maybe I´m able to order some samples.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
Ok, if you have the time to order and test, it would be helpfull for us others. But so it seems that stephezhou has other problems...
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
--- Quote Start ---
I use quartus 6.1 to convert the file.and the FPGA is EP2C5,The ST ID is 25PE16V6.I Will buy some M25P40 to try it .
--- Quote End ---

I´m using quartus 7.1.

are you shure that you have selectet the right EPCS device for the .jic conversion?

use quartus 7.1, maybe there will be the silicon ID reportet, as it was in my case.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
hi Ckirsche
I programer M25P40 with quartus is ok. but it can't work .i use *.jic,but when i reset the board ,it can't config the FPGA ep2c5/.
and for your information .it only can work with EP2C8?
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
Hi every body,
I want to know how I connect the JTAG to assure the Serial Flash Loader for a CYCLON III FPGA (EP3C25Q240).
I know that I must use the SFL function and connect the M25P16 FLASH RAM like this :
M25p16 EPCS16
C-----------DCLK
D-----------ASDI
Q-----------DATA
S-----------NCS
W-----------VCC (With pullup)
HOLD-------VCC (With pullup)
VCC--------VCC
VSS--------GND
But to program the FLASH via the JTAG ,I don’t know if there is a special connection between the CYCLON III and the M25P16
Thanks
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
look in the quartus III manual section Active Serial connection.

There is a schematic which shows the connection!

the schematic to load the serial flash over JTAG with the serial Flash loader tool from altera is the same!
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
Thanks
But I don’t find the quartus III manual section Active Serial connection can you please send me the address
:)
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-cyc3.jsp

chapter 10
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
18 years ago
OK M25P40 I Test in 1C6, 2C5,2C8 Is ok
in as mode and jtag mode.

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Cyclone II Serial Config

41 Replies

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