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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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10 years ago

How to read EPC4QC100N internal memory?

I am new for FPGA/CPLD.

I am troubleshooting filed failure and suspect that EPC4QC100N internal memory has been corrupted.

This system includes EPC4QC100N, EP20K100EBC356-3N and TMS320VC33PGE150.

Firmware Engineer informed that sometimes he has to reload EPC code to make system working correctly.

Before I will reload EPC code, I would like to read it back from the suspicious EPC4QC100N to find what data was corrupted (if any) and to determine why this may happened.

What is the best way to troubleshoot it?

What hardware and software tools I need for it?

I have XILINX USB CPLD programmer, and interested if I can use it for this task.

Copy of schematic is attached.

Will be appreciated for any ather suggestions.

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    How are you or your manufacturer programming your EPC4? Whatever In-System Programmer (ISP) you or they are using should be able to read it's contents back. These devices also support JTAG which is very likely to be the method by which they're programmed. JTAG will allow you to read the contents of these devices.

    We can't read the very, very! small image of the schematic you posted to understand your circuit more. Do post a larger one.

    Your Xilinx USB CPLD programmer - is it a 'Platform Cable USB'? Yes, that supports JTAG. However, I suspect that's not the way to go. It'll need to operate with software that understands how to read the EPC4. The Xilinx software isn't likely to support the Altera device and Altera software isn't going to support the Xilinx programming cable. It is possible but it's very involved.

    Cheers,

    Alex
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    If your board supports JTAG programming through a 10-pin header, then all you should need is an Altera programming dongle and a computer and you may be able to use the following method. Get a USB Blaster (uses USB) or a ByteBlaster II (requires parallel port) cable from Altera. Download the Quartus II software (you can probably get by with just the "stand-alone programmer" software). Connect the programming cable to your board and to your computer. Start the programming software. Perform an "Auto Detect". If the software detects the EPC4 device then you can select the "examine" check box and click the "start" button to read the file out. You may have to load a valid programming file into the window first (by double clicking in the "file" column and selecting a programming file from your computer), just DON'T click the "program/configure" checkbox or it will reprogram your device. When it is done you can save the memory contents that it read as a file to your computer. A couple other options you can try if the Quartus programmer works, you can perform a "blank-check" to see if the memory is empty, or a "verify" where it will compare the contents of the memory device to the file you have selected and tell you if they are the same or not. Hope this helps.