Cyclone IV and M25P16 8 pins SPI Flash

[Altera_Forum]

Hello,  

I have a board with M25P16 8 pins SPI Flash on it. Now I want to program it with .jic in Active serial mode, for that I instantiated Altera Serial Flash Loader IP according to an370.pdf but I'm not getting how the IOs should be connected with my design and externally with SPI Flash.   So if anyone can please help me out with the same I will be thankful.

[Altera_Forum]

You can of course connect SPI flash to any I/O pins, but then it cannot be used for power-on configuration of the FPGA. Since you mention .jic programming, you are discussing power-on configuration, in which case, there is no "option" for which I/Os you connect the flash to - you *MUST* connect the SPI flash to the configuration pins. 

 The handbook for your device and the configuration guidelines tell you which pins your schematic should have used.   The .jic file FPGA download image already has those pins assigned, so if you have assigned the pins correctly, the .jic download should just work.  If you think you have things correct, but its not working, use a scope to check the SPI pins. I've debugged a design where the designer switched the serial data I/Os.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

What you told me about the SPI IOs connection, I verified and found it ok. Now after this I might sound stupid for what I'm going to ask,  After configuring the Serial Flash Loader and adding .qip file should I need to add IOs in pin planner? How should i instantiate it in my top module? If it is possible for you to give me one simple design like 8-bit LED for .jic, I would be thankful.   I'm very much new to this Altera's Quartus Environment and even Altera FPGAs  Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   After configuring the Serial Flash Loader and adding .qip file should I need to add IOs in pin planner? How should i instantiate it in my top module? If it is possible for you to give me one simple design like 8-bit LED for .jic, I would be thankful.   --- Quote End ---   Your question does not make sense.  If you have generated a .jic then you have already created a project. If you did not assign pins during the generation of that project, Quartus will randomly assign pins, and you could damage your board.  Which Cyclone IV board do you have? If I have the same kit, I can point you to a 'basic' example.  Quartus has several PDF tutorials linked from the Help menu. You should read those, and read the Quartus handbook (at least the sections on FPGA design).  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

Sorry about that, I presently have Altera DE2-115 Development and Education Board. What I'm trying to do is play around with those LEDs thats it. For doing that I want to program the board using .jic file.   I think the board should program with that file.  So can I get help with this board??  And other thing is that the board is not demage because i programed .sof file and it is working fine.   Thanks