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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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13 years ago

CycloneIII flash content / field update

Hi,

I'm trying to provide the possibility to field update the Flash content, so that the FPGA can boot using new configuration data.

I have a design in which there is no Nios II processor. The external flash memory is configured using the AP(active parallel) scheme.

At the moment, I'm downloading configuration data/images to the flash device using the JTAG interface along with the Quartus II Programmer.

I would like to know if it's possible to use an SPI interface inorder to provide the FPGA with new configuration data (The flash memory content gets re-programmed/ updated).

I had a look at the AN521 document, but it does not describe how to get new configuration data from an external source inorder to update the flash memory.

Saber890

Saber890

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    Hi, from the link that you sendt:

    "by using the altremote_update megafunction and the dedicated circuitry, your design can download a new configuration image from a remote location, store it in the configuration memory, and direct the dedicated remote system upgrade circuitry to start a reconfiguration cycle."

    That's what I'm looking for. But how can I actually "download a new configuration image from a remote location" while using the SPI interface?

    Usually the JTAG_UART is used along with the Quartus II Programmer and a PFL inorder to download the .pof file that contains the new configuration data.

    How can I transfere the content of the .pof file from the remote location to the flash device?

    saber890

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    This is the work you have to do. Thanking the data coming from the SPI interface and hand it over to the ALTREMOTE_UPDATE megafunction to store the data in the flash and when this is finishes configure the megafuction to start from the new load.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    13 years ago

    Hello,

    I think I'll try to add a NiosII processor inorder to handle the interfacing towards the incomming configuration data (SPI) and also inorder to write the configuration data using the Generic Tri-State Controller for the Flash memory.

    From what I discovered so far, the ALTREMOTE_UPDATE megawizard does not write the configuration data itself to the flash memory. It does however handle the reconfiguration cycles and the error handling that needs to be performed after the new configuration data has been placed in the flash memory.

    Until now I have been downloading .pof files to the flash device using the JTAG, but I don't think I can provide the new configuration data using the .pof format (or can I ?).

    Perhaps the .hex or one of the other available formats format will do better when providing the bytes that the SPI interface will transfere to the NiosII processor?

    Regards,

    saber890