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Altera_Forum
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19 years ago

Designs without Nios Processor

I am a beginner in using Altera Nios Development Board. I am trying to test simple logic on the FPGA Board without using NIOs 2 Processor. Can anyone tell me if this is possible.

I am doing something like this:

I wrote a simple module with 3 output ports and connected to the LEDs on the board. each output pins drives '1'. when i try to download the .sof file on the board, the LEDs flash momentarily and then the board enters the 'safe' mode and runs the default factory program. Can someone tell me why are the LEDs flash only momentarily.

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    There seems to be some problem with programming the file into the FPGA. Does Quartus give you some error message?

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    Altera_Forum
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    Check settings -> ununsed pins --> set As inputs, tri-stated

    Nios II development board doesn't not necessarily to be used only for Nios II processor design. You will see this by simply connection design.

    If failed check project global settings.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by kalle leo@May 11 2006, 03:03 AM

    there seems to be some problem with programming the file into the fpga. does quartus give you some error message?

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=15283)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Hi Leo,

    Quartus doesnt give me any error msgs during the compilation or during downloading the program to the fpga. I am running Quartus on a Linux machine. But I do get something like this on the terminal from which I run the quartus, though I dont know what does this means:

    "File not found ~/.jtag.conf errno = 2".

    I also tried to use the sof2flash utility and converted the sof file into flash and then downloaded on the FPGA. when I power up, the user mode LED lights up for a moment and again the factory default starts running...

    do you have any suggestions??
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by legendbb@May 11 2006, 08:13 AM

    check settings -> ununsed pins --> set as inputs, tri-stated

    nios ii development board doesn&#39;t not necessarily to be used only for nios ii processor design. you will see this by simply connection design.

    if failed check project global settings.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=15293)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Thanx for your reply... my deisgn worked the moment i changed the unused pins to "set as inputs,tri-stated"
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by sony_sony@May 10 2006, 04:30 PM

    i am a beginner in using altera nios development board. i am trying to test simple logic on the fpga board without using nios 2 processor. can anyone tell me if this is possible.

    i am doing something like this:

    i wrote a simple module with 3 output ports and connected to the leds on the board. each output pins drives &#39;1&#39;. when i try to download the .sof file on the board, the leds flash momentarily and then the board enters the &#39;safe&#39; mode and runs the default factory program. can someone tell me why are the leds flash only momentarily.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=15264)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    I have used the Nios dev boards for prototyping a couple of non Nios designs.

    There&#39;s a line to the configuration controller called reconfigreq_n (or something

    very like it) which allows a Nios core to request a re-configuration. If the config

    controller sees this low it re-configures the FPGA.

    If you don&#39;t want any re-config set this permanently high.

    Nial.