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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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15 years ago

How to Write Configuration and Program Data to EPCS Directly Not via FPGA

Hi,

I'm looking for a tutorial or how-to on loading configuration and program data into an EPCS device connected to a Cyclone III device.

I want to program using a download cable to the EPCS device and not via FPGA JTAG pins.

I'm using pin connections like the one shown in Figure 3-2 of the Serial Configuration Devices Data Sheet.

Thank you

4 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    The Altera SRUNNER project has code to program EPCS by a microprocessor. Apart from this, EPCS is a standard SPI flash device, you can find the programming algoritms in Altera and third party data sheets.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    Thanks for the quick response. Shouldn't you be out playing with firecrackers? :-)

    Sorry about that FvM and here I thought I was being overly clear.

    I should've included that I want to use Altera's USB Blaster to do the programming.

    I know this must be a trivial task but I'm struggling to find and put together all the necessary pieces. I imagine that one must be able to take POF and ELF files and program them on the EPCS device for the FPGA configuration device to read and for the EPCS core's boot loader to load.

    I hope that makes my request a bit clearer.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    Look at the instructions for putting a JIC together (SOF + any hex files). Typically, this requires some additional steps:

    1. Modify the bootloader to locate the ELF at a fixed address inside the SPI flash (EPCS).

    2. Use elf2flash to generate a .flash file.

    3. Relocate/shift the addresses in this .flash file.

    - It's really just an SREC.

    4. Convert this SREC to a HEX file using objcopy or other capable program of your choice.

    I won't provide further details as there are other, more detailed instructions available on this forum and, I believe, as solutions on Altera. I recommend using Altera's site search for stuff like this...it includes forum and Wiki results, along with official Altera solutions, documentation and collateral.

    Regards,

    --slacker
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    Thanks for clarifying, apparently I didn't read your post exactly.

    I think, the Quartus convert programming files tool allows to assemble programming data to a *.pof file, that can be used for AS programming with the Quartus programmer.