3–4
Chapter 3: Configuration and Testing
Configuration
In addition to the number of configuration methods supported, Arria GX devices also
offer decompression and remote system upgrade features. The decompression feature
allows Arria GX FPGAs to receive a compressed configuration bitstream and
decompress this data in real-time, reducing storage requirements and configuration
time. The remote system upgrade feature allows real-time system upgrades from
remote locations of Arria GX designs. For more information, refer to “Configuration
Schemes” on page 3–5.
Operating Modes
The Arria GX architecture uses SRAM configuration elements that require
configuration data to be loaded each time the circuit powers up. The process of
physically loading the SRAM data into the device is called configuration. During
initialization, which occurs immediately after configuration, the device resets
registers, enables I/O pins, and begins to operate as a logic device. The I/O pins are
tri-stated during power up, and before and during configuration. Together, the
configuration and initialization processes are called command mode. Normal device
operation is called user mode.
SRAM configuration elements allow you to reconfigure Arria GX devices in-circuit by
loading new configuration data into the device. With real-time reconfiguration, the
device is forced into command mode with a device pin. The configuration process
loads different configuration data, re-initializes the device, and resumes user-mode
operation. You can perform in-field upgrades by distributing new configuration files
either within the system or remotely.
PORSELis a dedicated input pin used to select power-on reset (POR) delay times of
12 ms or 100 ms during power up. When the PORSELpin is connected to ground, the
POR time is 100 ms. When the PORSELpin is connected to VCC, the POR time is 12 ms.
The nIO_PULLUPpin is a dedicated input that chooses whether the internal pull-up
resistors on the user I/O pins and dual-purpose configuration I/O pins (nCSO, ASDO,
DATA[7..0], nWS, nRS, RDYnBSY, nCS, CS, RUnLU, PGM[2..0], CLKUSR,
INIT_DONE, DEV_OE, DEV_CLR) are on or off before and during configuration. A
logic high (1.5, 1.8, 2.5, 3.3 V) turns off the weak internal pull-up resistors, while a
logic low turns them on.
Arria GX devices also offer a new power supply, VCCPD, which must be connected to
3.3 V in order to power the 3.3-V/2.5-V buffer available on the configuration input
pins and JTAG pins. VCCPD applies to all the JTAG input pins (TCK, TMS, TDI, and
TRST) and the following configuration pins: nCONFIG, DCLK(when used as an input),
nIO_PULLUP, DATA[7..0], RUnLU, nCE, nWS, nRS, CS, nCS, and CLKUSR. The VCCSEL
pin allows the VCCIO setting (of the banks where the configuration inputs reside) to be
independent of the voltage required by the configuration inputs. Therefore, when
selecting the VCCIO voltage, you do not have to take the VIL and VIH levels driven to
the configuration inputs into consideration. The configuration input pins, nCONFIG,
DCLK(when used as an input), nIO_PULLUP, RUnLU, nCE, nWS, nRS, CS, nCS, and
CLKUSR, have a dual buffer design: a 3.3-V/2.5-V input buffer and a 1.8-V/1.5-V
input buffer. The VCCSEL input pin selects which input buffer is used. The 3.3-V/2.5-V
input buffer is powered by VCCPD, while the 1.8-V/1.5-V input buffer is powered by
VCCIO
.
Arria GX Device Handbook, Volume 1
© December 2009 Altera Corporation
ALTERA [ ALTERA CORPORATION ]
