USB Blaster II

[AdamLevine]

We are using MAXV and Quartus Prime Lite Edition.  We purchased a USB-Blaser II.  We are able to program the device, however in between "sessions" when we plug in the USB it sometimes fails to recognize the MAX Device.  It does see the JTAG cable, but when it is NOT seeing the device we notice in hardware setup the JTAG frequency is not selectable.  After much trial and error we find that we must go into device manager and  "uninstall device" and then unplug/plug in the cable to get it to work.  However even this isn't always repeatable and we sometimes need to do this multiple times.  We know it is going to work when the JTAG frequency is displayed as 24000000 in hardware setup, otherwise it is blank and un-editable.  Why is this so unreliable?  We believe the right drivers are installed as it is the latest download,  and when  it work, it works good. 

jtagconfig.exe -- version

returns:

jtagconfig
Version 23.1std.1 Build 993 05/14/2024 SC Standard Edition
Copyright (C) 2024 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.

Thanks in advance.

A.A.L.

[lixy]

Hi,

1- Did you try on another PC?

2- Did you try on another board? Only this board is having this problem?

3- Did this connection ever worked normally before? Did this problem happen after working for a while, or it never really worked well?

4- Could you screenshot the JTAG part schematic? Double check the JTAG pin connection is correct.

MAX® V Device Family Pin Connection Guidelines

Best Regards,

Xiaoyan

[AdamLevine]

Hi Xiaoyan,

Thanks for the quick reply, I apologize for the delay as I only work on this intermittently. In answer to your questions:
1) Did you try on another PC?

   -- Unfortunately I only have the tools on one machine and am working remotely so I cannot try this quickly.  I'll give it a try next time I am on site.

2) Did you try on another board? Only this board is having this problem?

   -- It is happening on two boards, however they are the same development / prototype board so are essentially the same.  I don't think it is board related as it happens with the JTAG unplugged.  As stated the tell-tale sign is the JTAG frequency does not populate when in hardware setup dialog.  The JTAG does not need to be plugged in for this.

3- Did this connection ever worked normally before? Did this problem happen after working for a while, or it never really worked well?

  -- This is our first time using the tools.  The first time we plugged it in it worked fine. Seems like the problem occurs after unplug / plug the USB cable, even if quartus is shut down.  I never has worked "well", once it works it is fine and repeatable.  Once it stops working then I go through the procedure described above:

"go into device manager and  "uninstall device" and then unplug/plug in the cable to get it to work"

4) Could you screenshot the JTAG part schematic? Double check the JTAG pin connection is correct.

 -- I attached PDF of the MAX V / JTAG portion of schematic.  Since when it works, it works well and it happens without the JTAG connected I don't believe it is HW/PCB related.

Although it is cumbersome, I am able to work with it as I am not making frequent changes to the CPLD, my concern is when we finally go into production.

Probably won't be of help but here is some more info on PC

Device name ALevineHP
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 7530U with Radeon Graphics 2.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.4 GB usable)
Device ID 8BBxxxxx-FB75-417F-8536-xxxxx
Product ID 00342-22431-05798-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Touch support with 10 touch points

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 24H2
Installed on ‎12/‎8/‎2024
OS build 26100.4061
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0

Thanks again,

Adam

[lixy]

Hi Adam,

I think this looks like the connection is not stable.

1- Please still try other machines and USB blaster II cables. Make sure the cables are working.

2- From the schematic, The JTAG header pin order looks fine. But I can not see whether there's pull-up or pull-down resistors. Please check from the schematic for the JTAG pins and confirm:

-- Connect TCK pin to a 1-kΩ pull-down resistor to GND.

-- Connect TMS pin to a 10-kΩ pull-up resistor to VCCIO1.

-- Connect TDI pin to a 10-kΩ pull-up resistor to VCCIO1.

If these pull-up/pull-down are not correctly connected, then the JTAG state machine in MAX V might fall into in a wrong state.

3- Also, sometimes this also happens if the JTAG header has some soldering issues or the cable are not well connected. Although the possibility is low that this happens to two boards.

Best Regards,

Xiaoyan