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Rick-old-space-cadet's avatar
Rick-old-space-cadet
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10 months ago

how to copy program EPM3064ALC44-10

I have a EPM3064ALC44-10 chip and I want to copy the program from it to a new old stock EPM3064ALC44-10 that are blank can it be done?
Programmable Logic Device
WZ2's avatar
WZ2
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9 months ago

Is your device booting from flash? If you have not added an encrypted image and can access the device via JTAG, you can try using the "Examine" function in the programmer to read out the contents of the flash and then program them into a new device.


_AK6DN_'s avatar
_AK6DN_
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9 months ago

That is not how the program is stored in the MAX series legacy CPLD devices. There is not a separate external FLASH memory device that can be read. The program is stored in cells distributed across the device internally, so it when it is powered on it is instantly configured and ready to go. Read the datasheet.

The programming of these devices is accessible via JTAG, but Altera/Intel deprectated the program readback feature in the versions of Quartus still available that support these devices (Quartus 13.0sp1 specifically). I don't recall if any version of Quartus ever supported read back of the MAX EPM3 and EPM7 series devices or you would have to go back to MAX PLUS II to have support for program readback.

As I mentioned in my prior post 3rd party programmers do support program image readback. I have one such programmer an EEtools TopMaxII that supports these devices for programming. Other manufacturers like Xeltek have programmers with the same capability.

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    9 months ago
    Hi,
    isn't it so that recent Quartus programmer versions are still supporting old devices like MAX3000 series? I see that they are able to load EPM3256A .pof files. I have no device hardware at hand to check if it's recognized through JTAG and if the seemingly enabled programmer functions including "Examine" are actually working.
    • _AK6DN_'s avatar
      _AK6DN_
      Icon for Frequent Contributor rankFrequent Contributor
      9 months ago

      So I stand corrected.

      I tracked down a development board that I have that has an EPM3064A LC44 on it, and was able to use Quartus 13.0sp1,
      16.0, and 21.1 versions to successfully EXAMINE and VERIFY and PROGRAM the device using my TerASIC Blaster programmer.

      So to the OP, using 13.0sp1 which supports full development for the EPM3xxxA series parts will allow copying the old device
      program back into a file to reprogram new devices. Of course, the security bit must NOT be set or examine will be disabled.

      All of the parts I have used are the EPM7xxxS series which I know for a fact the EXAMINE function is not available in those
      same versions of Quartus 13.0sp1, 16.0, 21.1. PROGRAM, VERIFY, BLANK CHECK only. No EXAMINE. So that is true, but
      extrapolating that restriction to the similar EPM3xxxA series parts was incorrect on my part.