Cyclone configuration device

It looks like that the Atmel AT25Fxxxx is a functional drop-in replacement for the serial
configuration devices from Altera (EPCSx). Only the pinout differes.
Any comments on this?

Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using NIOS?

Martin
----------------------------------------------
JOP - a Java Processor core for FPGAs:
http://www.jopdesign.com/

"Martin Schoeberl" <martin.schoeberl@chello.at> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:i7JNd.33865$2e4.11855@news.chello.at...
> It looks like that the Atmel AT25Fxxxx is a functional drop-in replacement
for the serial
> configuration devices from Altera (EPCSx). Only the pinout differes.
> Any comments on this?

EPCS are custom labeled ST serial flash devices 25Pxx

AT25F might be useable as well, but compare the prices, hmm
25P32 8Mbyte from ST 6.4$ digikey stock
AT25P1024 1MByte Atmel 15.6$ digikey stock
AT25F1024 1MByte 1.85$ hmm digikey no stock :(

hm the P1024 was CASON8 (6x8mm), the F1024 is SAP even smaller 6x5mm
well if you are sure you want to deal with Atmel and can by the parts and
1MByte is enough then the price isnt so bad.

I am looking for 4MByte serial flash and there doesnt seem to be any
alternative to 25P32 and that is unfortunatly only available in SOIC-16
WIDE, so no 4MByte device in Chip Scale available for direct purchases at
the moment. Or at least I have not found.

The difference betweeen 1MByte and 4MByte is very important for me, in
4MByte there is room for uClinux image in 2MByte devices not :(

NexFlash has pin compatible parts to ST so there is second vendor
availables, so I think I stick to 25P32

> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using
NIOS?

hm whats the problem?

Antti

Martin Schoeberl wrote:
> It looks like that the Atmel AT25Fxxxx is a functional drop-in replacement for the serial
> configuration devices from Altera (EPCSx). Only the pinout differes.
> Any comments on this?
> 
> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using NIOS?

Just use it as normal SPI periphal and use the cyclone_asmiblock for it...


rick

>> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using
> NIOS?
>
> hm whats the problem?
>
Don't know if it's a problem. Just havn't done it till now and didn't find any documentation
about it from Altera. 

"Martin Schoeberl" <martin.schoeberl@chello.at> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:VELNd.33972$2e4.10640@news.chello.at...
> >> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using
> > NIOS?
> >
> > hm whats the problem?
> >
> Don't know if it's a problem. Just havn't done it till now and didn't find
any documentation
> about it from Altera.
>

Menu: File->Convert Programming File
select .JIC
select your serial device
select your fpga
add .sof
convert
start programmer
add .JIC
program

That should be it! when it works :)

Antti

>> >> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using
>> > NIOS?
>> >
>> > hm whats the problem?
>> >
>> Don't know if it's a problem. Just havn't done it till now and didn't find
> any documentation
>> about it from Altera.
>>
>
> Menu: File->Convert Programming File
> select .JIC
> select your serial device
> select your fpga
> add .sof
> convert
> start programmer
> add .JIC
> program
>
> That should be it! when it works :)
>
Antti,

you misunderstood me. I was asking about programming it FROM the FPGA. You know this
ASMI stuff.

Martin 

"Martin Schoeberl" <martin.schoeberl@chello.at> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:I3MNd.33985$2e4.26109@news.chello.at...
> >> >> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou
using
> >> > NIOS?
> Antti,
>
> you misunderstood me. I was asking about programming it FROM the FPGA. You
know this
> ASMI stuff.
>
> Martin

sorry I am bit off today catched some cold, hope it doesnt cathc over
newsgroups..

I bet you get no replies regarding the ASMI stuff. I looked into a little a
long time but havent actually done anything - from simple reason I still
dont have any of your nice cyclone boards on my desk :) The acex board I
have, I would like to give it away..

It should be possible but you might have to dig into library sources, etc.
etc..

Antti

Antti,

>> you misunderstood me. I was asking about programming it FROM the FPGA. You
> know this
>> ASMI stuff.
>>
>> Martin
>
> sorry I am bit off today catched some cold, hope it doesnt cathc over
> newsgroups..
>
> I bet you get no replies regarding the ASMI stuff. I looked into a little a
> long time but havent actually done anything - from simple reason I still
> dont have any of your nice cyclone boards on my desk :) The acex board I
> have, I would like to give it away..

This wouldn't help, as these boards are configured with parallel Flash and a PLD.
I'm just thinking about a new board for JOP and how to minimize part count. I have
to beat the S3 Starter Kit in the price...
>
> It should be possible but you might have to dig into library sources, etc.
> etc..
>
If you want to solve this issue with a Cyclone I can give you one board. However, you
have to modify it - attache the serial Flash to the FPGA pins in 'some' way and
change MSEL0 to 0 for AS.

Martin
----------------------------------------------
JOP - a Java Processor core for FPGAs:
http://www.jopdesign.com/

Rick,

>> Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using NIOS?
>
> Just use it as normal SPI periphal and use the cyclone_asmiblock for it...
>
>
Have you allready done it? A small code snippet would be nice.

Martin
----------------------------------------------
JOP - a Java Processor core for FPGAs:
http://www.jopdesign.com/ 

Martin Schoeberl wrote:
> Rick,
> 
> 
>>>Has someone managed to program these devices from the FPGA withou using NIOS?
>>
>>Just use it as normal SPI periphal and use the cyclone_asmiblock for it...
>>
>>
> 
> Have you allready done it? A small code snippet would be nice.

http://www.fpga.ch/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3

enjoy (o;
rick