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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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18 years ago

Cyclone III Passive Serial Configuration

Hi all,

I'm just debugging a design with a Cyclone III EP3C25, and have run into a problem:

I have wired the circuit following PS configuration, as per the datasheets. My configuration device is a EPC16, and I'm detecting both devices (FPGA and configuration device) through JTAG autodetect. I'm able to program the fpga, but I cannot generate the .pof for the config device. When I go to device options, i can only choose my epc16 if i select "Active serial (can use configuration device)"...if i select Passive serial, the select box for the config device is shadowed :(

I've read in the web that epc16 is not compatible with cyclone iii....but in enhanced configuration devices datasheet it says epc devices are compatible with Cyclone series...

What i want to do is access through JTAG, program the .pof into the epc16 and let it download the program to the fpga on every startup through passive serial... Is it possible to do so? Should I change the device with a EPCS16?? I don't know what to do...And I'm not sure I can manage the epcs16 through JTAG. Maybe passive serial is not a good option, but since the hardware prototype is already built, i would like to repair this...

Thanks in advance,

Fran

Attached is a rough scheme of the wiring

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    No I would say you are out of luck. EPC16 is not the same as EPCS16. You cannot use the EPC16 to program a Cyclone III device.

    Jake
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    I don't know, what's exactly the reason, why EPC devices can't be used with Cyclobe III, but the convert programming files tool says so. It can, however, generate programming files for Cyclone and Cyclone II. This is also clearly stated in the configuration handbook.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    I don't know, what's exactly the reason, why EPC devices can't be used with Cyclobe III, but the convert programming files tool says so. It can, however, generate programming files for Cyclone and Cyclone II. This is also clearly stated in the configuration handbook.

    --- Quote End ---

    In reality, can EPC devices be used with Cyclobe IV GX for PS configuration?

    Did anyone try it by himself?

    Some EPC devices ( EPC4, EPC8 and EPC16 ) are not even listed in convert programming files in Quartus 12.1 sp1.

    But older EPC1, EPC2 are listed :wacko: