Hardware Reference Design

[Altera_Forum]

Hello I have been looking for a very simple programming circuit for cyclone III FPGA's for the past 6 months or so, and have not been able to find one...then the next thing I know bemicro came out with their usb stick...I am in the process of getting one, but I noticed they do not provide complete documentation for the blaster interface which was a bummer. I was hoping the reference design would come with hardware docs so I could expand on their design. I was wondering if altera has a recommended version similar to the bemicro one so that after I get some code going I can add some parts that I want to use to a board and have a quick easy way to debug my project. I also have the DE-270 board...but the blaster interface on that board is huge, so I do not want to use that. I was also hoping for recommended flash setup for independent use. Let me know if this is the right place to post this...any help is appreciated thanks.

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Dave, 

 Yea, that's what I was afraid of. I've seen Kawk's work briefly, and it looks like he has a section on using a FT245R + MAX7000 CPLD. That definitely is something I could modify to work, though I still rather lose the CPLD. However, if have a CPLD for a few $$ eliminates needing a $50 ($300 Altera) Blaster, then I'm in.  Thanks! Matt

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Matt, 

  --- Quote Start ---   Yea, that's what I was afraid of. I've seen Kawk's work briefly, and it looks like he has a section on using a FT245R + MAX7000 CPLD. That definitely is something I could modify to work, though I still rather lose the CPLD. However, if have a CPLD for a few $$ eliminates needing a $50 ($300 Altera) Blaster, then I'm in.   --- Quote End ---   Before you worry about the cost, you need to think about what you want the USB-Blaster for, eg.,  1. If you only want to access a single board, then there is no reason not to simply put a 10-pin header on your board.  2. If your board will always be connected to USB and you want to talk to the FPGA, then there is no problem just using an FTDI device directly.  3. If your board will always be connected to USB and you want to use Altera's tools to access the FPGA via the USB-Blaster, then you need to implement a USB-Blaster clone.  For example, option (3) applies if you have a board with transceivers or memory and you want to use the "Transceiver Toolkit" or "External Memory Interface Toolkit".  You can create an "improved" USB-Blaster interface using an FT245B or FT245R and MAX II device. I prefer the FT245B, as you can implement the microwire EEPROM in the MAX II UFM EEPROM, and implement two copies of the EEPROM image; one for a USB-Blaster and one for a USB-to-Serial adapter. This makes it easy to switch the device to being a plain-old serial interface.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Dave, 

 In my case, this is a board that I'm designing that will eventually be a product. While I don't mind slapping a header on there and using my Blaster, I'd prefer not to force others to pay for a Blaster when the board itself is probably only in the $50-100 range. That being said, I'm still leaning towards (3). I like your idea with the FT245B; I personally thought the FT245R was nice because you eliminate the need for an EEPROM, 6MHz crystal and (possibly) the 24MHz oscillator to the CPLD, though you'd be running at half speed (12MHz instead of Altera's devkit at 24MHz).  Matt

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   In my case, this is a board that I'm designing that will eventually be a product.   --- Quote End ---   There-in lies the difficulty with Altera/Quartus not support user-defined USB-Blaster interfaces.  How can you sell a product containing a USB Vendor ID and Product ID that you do not own?  Perhaps Thomas (Altera forum user ttentner) can answer that, since his company sells an EEBlaster product ...  http://www.entner-electronics.com/tl/index.php/eeblaster.html  I recall Tricky mentioning in another thread that you can license the USB-Blaster. If the license fee was reasonable (say $5/board), then that still might be a cost-effective option.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Dave, 

 Yea, we have an FAE at Altera who I'm bugging with all these questions at the moment. I put it to the forums as well to see if anybody had found an alternative to me putting down the FTDI + CPLD along with licensing the USB Blaster (which you are correct that it can be licensed). I'd like to hear what Thomas says, otherwise I'll chime in with updates if I get some useful info back from Altera on this.  Thanks! Matt

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Matt, 

  --- Quote Start ---   Yea, we have an FAE at Altera who I'm bugging with all these questions at the moment. I put it to the forums as well to see if anybody had found an alternative to me putting down the FTDI + CPLD along with licensing the USB Blaster (which you are correct that it can be licensed). I'd like to hear what Thomas says, otherwise I'll chime in with updates if I get some useful info back from Altera on this.   --- Quote End ---   It would be interesting to know what the licensing fee is, though I doubt Altera would want you to post it to the forum :)  I look forward to hearing what you end up doing.  Cheers, Dave