SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Application Note 418 June 2008, Version 1.1 Introduction The SRunner is a standalone Windows-based software driver that allows users to program Altera® Serial Configuration Devices (EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16, EPCS64 and EPCS128) using the ByteBlasterTM II download cable. The SRunner software code is developed and tested on the Windows XP platform. You can modify and port the SRunner source code to other platforms for EPCS programming. The input file to the SRunner is a Raw Programming Data (.rpd) file that is generated by Quartus® II version 2.2 SP2 and above. The SRunner reads the .rpd file and programs the data to the EPCS via the serial interface. Figure 1 shows how the SRunner is conceptualized. Figure 1. SRunner Concept Overview Quartus II v 2.2 SP2 or later Personal Computer Target Board ByteBlaster II Download Cable FPGA Generate .rpd File .rpd File Features SRunner - Program EPCS - Read EPCS Data EPCS The SRunner software driver has the following features: ■ Programming the EPCS with a .rpd file Before programming, the SRunner checks the EPCS silicon ID to determine the maximum size of the EPCS device’s memory that ensures the appropriate .rpd file size. In addition, all the EPCS data is erased using the Erase Bulk operation code before the programming stage. Altera Corporation AN-418-1.1 1 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming During programming, the SRunner reads the configuration data from the .rpd file and sends the data to the EPCS via the parallel port. The configuration data is programmed into the EPCS using the Write Bytes operation code. ■ Read back of EPCS data With this feature, the SRunner creates a file to store data from the EPCS. The SRunner reads the EPCS data by using the Read Bytes operation code and stores the data byte from the EPCS in this file. ■ Verify EPCS data With this feature, the SRunner verifies the content of the EPCS against the content of data saved in the .rpd file. The SRunner reads data by using the Read Bytes operation and compare the data stored in the .rpd file. If mismatch occurs, SRunner will flag an error to indicate the verification operation has failed. f Executing SRunner For more details about the EPCS devices, please refer to Serial Configuration Devices (EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16, EPCS64 and EPCS128) Data Sheet. You must enter command instructions as shown in Table 1 when executing the SRunner software driver. Table 1. Instructions for SRunner Instruction Action srunner -program -<EPCS density> <filename1>.rpd To open <filename1>.rpd and program the data from the Raw Programming Data file. srunner -read -<EPCS density> <filename2>.rpd To read out EPCS data and save in the <filename2>.rpd file. srunner -verify -<EPCS density> <filename1>.rpd To verify the EPCS data against the data saved in <filename1>.rpd file. Figure 2 shows the listing in the DOS command window when you program an EPCS device with the srunner -program -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd instruction. 2 Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Figure 2. Programming EPCS with the srunner -program -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd Command Figure 3 shows the listing in the DOS command window when you read from the EPCS device with the srunner -read -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd instruction. Altera Corporation 3 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Figure 3. Reading EPCS Data with the srunner -read -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd Command Figure 4 shows how the listing in the DOS command window when you verify the data stored inside the EPCS device with the srunner verify -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd instruction. 4 Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Figure 4. Verifying EPCS Data with the srunner -verify -<EPCS density> <filename>.rpd Command Figure 5. SRunner Software Structure .rpd File main.c User interface to execute read or program command Programming Cable fs.c File system module to provide access to read, write, open and close .rpd file. as.c Active serial module with routine to erase, program, read, and verify. bb.c Programming cable driver to control the parallel port for generating signal to the cable. When you execute a program or a read instruction, the SRunner software driver respectively performs specific program and read steps. Figure 6 shows the program flow during the execution of the program and read instruction using the SRunner. Altera Corporation 5 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Figure 6. Program Flow During the Execution of Program, Read and Verify Instructions Read Function Start Verify Function Start Open .rpd File Open .rpd File to Write Open .rpd File to Write Disable FPGA Access to EPCS Disable FPGA Access to EPCS Disable FPGA Access to EPCS Read Silicon ID/ Read Device Identification ID (1) Read Silicon ID/ Read Device Identification ID (1) Programming Function Start Read Silicon ID/ Read Device Identification ID (1) Bulk Erase Data Read Data from EPCS Read Data from EPCS Program EPCS Save Data in .rpd File Read Data in .rpd File Compare Data from EPCS against Data from .rpd File Enable FPGA Access to EPCS Close .rpd File End Programming Last Byte ? No Yes Enable FPGA Access to EPCS Close .rpd File Data Matched ? No Yes Last Byte? No Yes Enable FPGA Access to EPCS Read Function End Close .rpd File Verify Function End Note to Figure 6: (1) 6 Only EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16 and EPCS64 devices support Read Silicon ID operation. The EPCS128 supports Read Device Identification ID operation. Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Table 2 lists and describes the source files in SRunner. Table 2. SRunner Source Files File Description main.c User interface module that reads user instructions. as.c Contains an active serial algorithm to erase, program, read and verify data on the EPCS. The header file contains the Active Serial instruction set. as.h bb.c ByteBlaster II and ByteBlaster MV driver directs the signal to the programming cable (ByteBlaster MV is not used to program EPCS). bb.h fs.c fs.h File system module to open, close, create and read file (for example, a .rpd file). user.h User-defined error code. The active serial module (as.c) source file consists of various function calls that perform the active serial algorithm to erase, program, read and verify data on the EPCS. Table 3 lists and describes the function calls in the active serial module. Table 3. Functional Description for Active Serial Module (as.c) (Part 1 of 2) Function Description as_program() Executes during the srunner -program <filename1>.rpd command. as_read() Executes during srunner -read <filename1>.rpd command. as_open() Opens the programming file and initialize the parallel port. as_close() Closes the programming file and close the parallel port. as_program_start () Disables the FPGA access to EPCS by pulling nCE high and nConfig low. Initializes nCS pin to high. as_program_done () Enables the FPGA access to EPCS by pulling nCE low and nConfig high. Pulls nCS pin to high. as_silicon_id() Checks EPCS Silicon ID to ensure correct device is programmed. as_bulk_erase() Erases all the EPCS data. as_prog() Checks the Raw Programming Data size to determine the amount of programming data to send to the programming cable. Read data from .rpd File and send to the parallel port during EPCS programming. as_verify() Reads the EPCS data out and compare with the .rpd file to verify the programming process is successful. as_readback() Reads back all the EPCS data and store in a .rpd file. Altera Corporation 7 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Table 3. Functional Description for Active Serial Module (as.c) (Part 2 of 2) Function Description as_program_byte_lsb() Stores the data byte to the parallel port buffer LSB first and generates a CLK signal (data is sampled by EPCS at rising edge) for programming the data into EPCS. as_read_byte_lsb() Reads the EPCS data from the DATAOUT pin and stores it in a byte buffer LSB first and generates a CLK signal (data is read at the rising edge) for reading the EPCS in the Raw Programming Data file format. as-program_byte_msb() Stores the data byte to the parallel port buffer MSB first and generates a CLK signal (data is sampled by EPCS at the rising edge) for sending instruction sets and addresses to the EPCS. as_read_byte_msb() Reads the EPCS data from the DATAOUT pin, stores it in a byte buffer MSB first and generates a CLK signal (data is read at rising edge) for reading the status register from the EPCS. as_lsb_to_msb () Convert one byte of data by changing the LSB to MSB. Operation Code and Data Out Sequence Diagram Each configuration data byte in the .rpd file has been organized to ensure the least significant bit (LSB) of each data byte is sent out first to the fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) devices during programming. In order to meet this requirement, the LSB of data bytes in the .rpd file has to be written first to the EPCS as shown in Figure 7. This format is different from the operation codes and address bytes format. For operation code and address bytes, SRunner needs to send the most significant bit (MSB) first. Refer to Figure 7. Figure 7. Timing Diagram During Programming EPCS by Using RPD File as Input nCS 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 28 29 31 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 38 DCLK Operation Code ASDI 23 MSB 22 21 3 2 1 0 LSB 0 LSB of every byte in .rpd file Send MSB out first for operation code and address bytes 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 MSB of every byte in .rpd file Send LSB out first for raw programming data byte (from RPD file). Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Raw Programming Data (RPD) File Altera Corporation The SRunner requires a .rpd file to be used as the input programming file. You need to generate a Programmer Object File (.pof), then convert the .pof file into a .rpd file. Follow these steps to generate a .pof: 1. On the File menu, click Convert Programming Files. 2. In the Convert Programming Files dialog box, point to the Programming file type menu and click Programmer Object file. 3. In the Mode menu, click Active Serial Configuration. 4. In the Configuration Device menu, click on a serial configuration device. 5. In the File Name text box, enter the file name and location for the .pof file . 6. In the Input files to convert section, point to SOF Data and click Add File to add the SRAM Object File (.sof). 7. Click Generate to generate a .pof as shown in Figure 8. 9 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Figure 8. Converting an SOF File to a POF File in Convert Programming Files After compiling the project and generating the .pof file, convert the .pof file into a .rpd file by using the Convert Programming Files dialog box in the File menu. This is shown in Figure 9. Follow these steps to generate an .rpd file from a .pof file: 10 1. On the File menu, click Convert Programming Files. 2. In the Convert Programming Files window, point to the Programming file type menu and click Raw Programming Data File. 3. In the File Name text box, enter the file name and location for the .rpd file. 4. In the Input Files to Convert section, point to POF Data and click Add File to add the .pof. Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming 5. Click Generate to generate an .rpd file as shown in Figure 9. Figure 9. Converting a POF File to an RPD File Table 4 shows the file size for the generated .rpd file. Table 4. RPD File Size for Serial Configuration Devices Device Altera Corporation RPD File Size (bits) EPCS1 1,048,576 EPCS4 4,194,304 EPCS16 16,777,216 EPCS64 67,108,864 EPCS128 134,217,728 11 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming 1 Pin Assignment Remove the unused part (blank configuration data) of the .rpd file by deleting part of the 0xFF, but leaving at least 36 bytes of 0xFF at the end of the .rpd file because they are part of the required configuration data. This helps to reduce the required programmming time. Use a hex editor tool to do the .rpd file editing to prevent file corruption. Because the writing and reading of the data to and from the I/O ports on other platforms maps to the parallel port architecture, this document describes the pin assignments of the active serial configuration signals to the parallel port. These pin assignments reduce the required source code modifications. Figure 5 shows the assignment of the active serial configuration signals to the parallel port. The parallel port has a total of 12 digital outputs and five digital inputs accessed via three consecutive 8-bit ports as shown in Table 5. Table 5. Assignment of the Active Serial Configuration Port 0 Description Pins Data Port (labeled with LPT_DATA in source code) 8 output pins 1 Status Port (labeled with LPT_STATUS in source code) 5 input pins (bit 7 inverted) 2 Control Port (labeled with LPT_CONTROL in source code) 4 output pins (bit 0, 1, 3 inverted) Table 6 shows the pin assignments of the active serial configuration signals to the parallel port. Table 6. Pin Assignments of Active Serial Configuration Signals to the Parallel Port Bit 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Port 0 - ASDI - - nCE nCS nCONFIG DLCK Port CONF 1 _DONE - - DATAOUT - - - - Port 2 - - - - - - - 12 - Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Table 7 describes the function of the active serial configuration pins when you use the SRunner software driver. Table 7. Pin Description Pin Name Altera Corporation Description DCLK SRunner generate a clock signal to EPCS via the DCLK pin. ASDI Data input signal for transferring data serially into the EPCS. DATAOUT Data output signal for transferring data serially out of the EPCS to the parallel port during read/programming operation. During read/programming operations, the EPCS is enabled by pulling nCS low. nCS The active low chip select input signal toggles at the beginning and end of a valid instruction. When this signal is high, the EPCS is deselected and the DATA pin is tri-stated. When this signal is low, it enables the EPCS and puts the device in an active mode. After power up, the EPCS requires a falling edge on the nCS signal before beginning any operation. nCE Active-low chip enable. When nCE is low, the FPGA is enabled. SRunner uses this pin to disable the FPGA from accessing the EPCS during programming. nCONFIG Configuration control input. Pulling this pin low during user-mode causes the FPGA to lose its configuration data, enter a reset state, and tri-state all I/O pins. Returning this pin to logic high initiates a reconfiguration. SRunner will hold the FPGA in reset mode by pulling this pin low during programming. CONF_DONE This is a dedicated configuration status pin, this pin goes high after the configuration mode is completed. 13 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Porting The software for SRunner is modular and is portable to other platforms and embedded systems. If needed, you can port the as.c file into the new platform and replace the current interfacing module with a platform-specific interfacing module. Different platforms have different ways of interfacing with I/Os and handling data in the memory. For example, if you need to port source code into an embedded system, some changes are required for the platform-dependent module as shown in Table 8. Table 8. Porting Change Option Module Platform Dependent Changes main.c Change to interface with other systems to execute the necessary instruction/operation. Yes bb.c Change to interface to either programming cable or directly to the EPCS Pin assignment (reassign pins to other I/O pins). Yes fs.c Change to access to the programming file (that is stored in other memory). Yes as.c Some minor changes if required. No Figure 10 shows the changes required when you port the SRunner into other platforms. Figure 10. Changes Required for Porting SRunner into Other Platforms 14 .rpd File main.c User interface to execute read or program command Programming Cable fs.c File system module to provide access to read, write, open and close .rpd file. as.c Active serial module with routine to erase, program, read, and verify. bb.c Programming cable driver to control the parallel port for generating signal to the cable. Altera Corporation SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming You can also port the SRunner into an embedded system as shown in Figure 11. Figure 11. Reference for Porting SRunner into an Embedded System Quartus II v2.2 SP2 or later SRunner on MicroProcessor Platform Microprocessor access to EPCS for programming EPCS. (Changes in bb module) Microprocessor access to memory for reading .rpd file. (Changes in fs module) FPGA Memory MicroProcessor .rpd File SRunner EPCS Generate .rpd file and save in memory. Conclusion The SRunner is a standalone software driver developed for EPCS programming and can be customized to fit in other systems and embedded systems. The customizable driver allows fast and easy EPCS programming using other platform-like microprocessor and tester programs. Referenced Documents ■ Altera Corporation Serial Configuration Devices (EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16, EPCS64 and EPCS128) Data Sheet. 15 SRunner: An Embedded Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming Document Revision History Table 9 shows the revision history for this chapter. Table 9. Document Revision History Date and Document Version June 2008 v 1.1 Changes Made — ● Added new bullet ‘Verify EPCS data’ in the “Features” section. Updated Table 1. Updated Figures 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 6. Added note to Figure 6. Added another row for EPC128 in Table 4 . ● Initial Release. — ● ● ● ● October 2006 v 1.0 101 Innovation Drive San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 544-7000 www.altera.com Applications Hotline: (800) 800-EPLD Literature Services: [email protected] Altera Corporation Summary of Changes Copyright © 2006 Altera Corporation. All rights reserved. Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device designations, and all other words and logos that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holders. Altera products are protected under numerous U.S. and foreign patents and pending applications, maskwork rights, and copyrights. Altera warrants performance of its semiconductor products to current specifications in accordance with Altera's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services at any time without notice. Altera assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Altera Corporation. Altera customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published information and before placing orders for products or services. 16