What is the difference between JTAG uart and the uart (RS-232) serial ?

[Zeid]

I know the use of UART RS 232 for transmitting serial data, but JTAG ?

and I can see most of designs are using JTAG on Qsys not RS-232 .

thanks in advance

[AnandRaj_S_Intel]

Hi,

The JTAG UART core uses the JTAG circuitry built into Intel FPGAs and provides host access via the JTAG pins on the FPGA. The host PC can connect to the FPGA via any Intel FPGA JTAG download cable.

The JTAG UART core eliminates the need for a separate RS-232 serial connection to a host PC for a character I/O.

If your hardware supports RS232, You can use UART RS 232.

Refer Embedded Peripherals IP User Guide and link.

Regards

Anand

[Zeid]

okay, does this means that USB-blaster and JTAG UART are two cores that allows a host computer to access the FPGA kit ?

because on my FPGA kit I have USB-blaster and JTAG UART pins, are they both work for hosting a computer ?

Thanks

[AnandRaj_S_Intel]

Hi,

Yes, JTAG UART and USB blaster help in establishing the communication between Host & FPGA kit.

Regards

Anand

[Zeid]

Great,

when I want to connect my kit to the computer and I want to use Qsys, should the JTAG UART core be added to the embedded system, Although I am using usb blaster and when I use Qsys and build an embedded system, and download it to the board , I do not add any UART interface with the Embedded system created in Qsys. Is this normal ?

[AnandRaj_S_Intel]

Yes, it is normal.

We can program FPGA without JTAG UART core.

To see the message from embedded software on the console we required JTAG UART.

Regards

Anand