Forum Discussion

Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
17 years ago

External Memory required for JTAG programming?

I am in the early stages of designing an RF transmitter that will operate with a Cyclone II. Testing is being done on a Cyclone II Starter Development Kit (EP2C20F484), but the final hardware will use a very simple implementation of the EP2C8T144.

The design is a proof-of-concept, so only JTAG programming will be necessary (no need for non-volatile AS programming). We are assuming this implementation will not require external memory. A 10-pin header connected to the Cyclone II's TDO, TMS, TCK, and TDI pins, with appropriate pull-up and pull-down resistors will be used with a USB Blaster for programming.

Are these assumptions correct? That is, no additional memory is required for JTAG, but non-volatile programming would require flash memory?

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    Yes, correct. You may want to provide an optional AS configuration memory, if you have sufficient free pins available (at least as dual-purpose). It can be programmed through JTAG indirectly without needing an extra programming connector.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Yes, correct. You may want to provide an optional AS configuration memory, if you have sufficient free pins available (at least as dual-purpose). It can be programmed through JTAG indirectly without needing an extra programming connector.

    --- Quote End ---

    By "indirectly" you mean the "flash-loader" design of Altera that can be programmed into the Cyclone?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    Yes, the technique has been named JTAG indirect programming by Altera. The most simple solution for production purposes is to use the Altera default SFL image.