FPGA (EP4CE22) configure with EEPROM

[Altera_Forum]

Hi  

 I got a question for the FPGA configuration with EEPROM.    Conditions:   1. FPGA (EP4CE22) with EEPROM 2. EEPROM should be remotely download image by I2C interface   Here are questions:   a. What kind of EEPROM be used for EP4CE22 for configuration purpose? b. What kind of the configuration scheme should I use to interface EEPROM and FPGA c. What kind of the configuration should I use for the I2C interface?   Thanks   Guangyi

[Altera_Forum]

Problably their are more options but this is one of them I already used: 

 --> use the Cyclone and a EPCS device (check the right size) and use the Active Serial Configuration scheme (AS) http://www.altera.com/literature/hb/cyclone-iv/cyiv-51008.pdf --> connect your I2C bus to the fpga   To program the eeprom you need to make a design (next to the functional one) for the cyclone that is able to program the EPCS. It looks like I2C interface<-> BUFFER EPCS <->Program Interface, that is a bridge between I2C and serial epcs interface.  When you want a remote upgrade you can simply use the interface in your design to reprogram the eeprom.  More info on exisiting IP to do a part of it: Serial Flash Loader http://www.altera.com/literature/an/an370.pdf  !!!!!!NOTE: this method is (relativly) simple but has one big draw back: if remote upgrading fails (like power fail during programming) the configuration is lost and the only option to revive the unit is bringing it to a facility who can program the EPCS from scratch (JTAG).   !!!!!! NOTE: standard I2C data rate is fairly low: it will take a long time to program the epcs wich makes the system even more vulnarable. You need to program about 6mbit at 400khz it is already 15s and no overhead is counted in this calculation.  Options to improve the scheme is working with a BOOT image and a normal operation image and use a fall back scheme but this is already more complex. Another option is to use a CPLD to do the bridge between EPCS serial interface and I2C interface   Good luck!

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Johannes 

 Thanks for the reply.  It looks a little bit complicate for the EPCS16 for FPGA. Did you tried third part EEPROM, say ATMEL EEPROM for Altera FPGA? or any other EEPROM for FPGA  From Atmel AT17LV040 datasheet, it also mentioned to Altera FPGA.  How to configure EP4CE22 to AT17LV40 and connections with I2C interface    Thanks  Guangyi

[Altera_Forum]

Nope i did not consider other HW because the remote update feature was added to the design spec AFTER the board was drawn. Of course there will be many other options... i am curious to see other possibilities