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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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15 years ago

EPCS16 and problems

Hi guys.

I met a problem.As i understand, I am not first person,which has same problems.

Lets go.

When i try to program flash memory(Altera EPSC16N) by HW and for this purpose i have .jic file, everything is going perfectly. Then (after board restart) if i want to check some Nios2 code by Debug - again everything is perfect. But when i try to program flash(EPCS) by Nios image - here problems are starting.I am trying to program by nios2-flash-programmer-gui.

In my application, reset-vector points to epcs_flash_controller_0.

When i program flash, i receive following output:

EPCS signature is 0xFF

EPCS device doesn't support RDID command

No EPCS layout data - looking for section[EPCS-FF]

Unable to use EPCS device

Leaving target processor paused

Error Code: 8 for command ...

I added nios2-flash-override.txt file and i receive same result.

I even changed epcs component.

It looks, like programmer cannot read correct sugnature.

I also have other board with EPCS4N flash memory.In this memory everything is perfect.

Plz,help guys.

It is urgent.

Thank you, Slava.

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    I want to continue on this old thread but adding new conditions for the same error.

    I'm getting exactly the same error:

    No EPCS layout data - looking for section[EPCS-FF]

    Unable to use EPCS device

    Leaving target processor paused

    Error Code: 8 for command ...

    But a singularity is that I'm only getting it when programming a certain system. So it should be an error in the description (Qsys). The only difference between this system is that I added SDRAM, but it works when running on Nios II HW so I'm guessing SDRAM is not the problem, or is it?.

    *Should I use a tri-state?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    I am having the same issue with an EPCS64N. I have two boards running identical .sof loads - one works and returns this from nios2-flash-programmer:

    Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x30000400 (with 32bit alignment)

    Initial values: 00000000 00000000 00000260 00000000 00000000 00000001

    Valid registers found

    epcs signature is 0x16

    EPCS identifier is 0x202017

    Using EPCS size information from section [EPCS-202017]

    Device size is 8MByte (64Mbit)

    Erase regions are:

    offset 0: 128 x 64K

    EPCS status is 0x00

    The other fails and returns this:

    Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x30000400 (with 32bit alignment)

    Initial values: 00000000 00000000 00000260 00000000 00000000 00000001

    Valid registers found

    epcs signature is 0xff

    EPCS device doesn't support RDID command

    No EPCS layout data - looking for section [EPCS-FF]

    Unable to use EPCS device

    Leaving target processor paused

    Does anybody know why an identical (in theory) circuit and device would return a signature of 0xFF? I have replaced the EPCS64N - same result. I checked the DCLK, DATA, nCS, and ASDI signals with a scope and all look good and similar between boards.

    Are there bad devices floating around? (These were purchased from DigiKey - an authorized Altera distributor.)
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    14 years ago

    It appears that my problem is an open circuit between the EPCS and the FPGA on DATA0. I will update this post if that is found not to be the fault.