Chapter 9: Configuration, Design Security, and Remote System Upgrades in the Cyclone III Device Family
Configuration Features
9–3
Table 9–1. Cyclone III Device Family Configuration Features (Part 2 of 2)
Configuration
Method
External Host with
Flash Memory
Download Cable
Notes to
(1) Remote update mode is supported when using the remote system upgrade feature. You can enable or disable remote update mode with an option
setting in the Quartus
®
II software. For more information about the remote system upgrade feature, refer to
(2) For more information about the supported families for the Micron commodity parallel flash, refer to
(3) The design security feature is not supported using a SRAM Object File (.sof).
Configuration Scheme
Decompression
Remote
System
Upgrade
(1)
Design
Security
(Cyclone III LS
Devices Only)
—
—
JTAG based configuration
—
—
—
—
1
The design security feature is for Cyclone III LS devices only and is available in all
configuration schemes except the JTAG-based configuration. The decompression
feature is not supported when you have enabled the design security feature.
When using a serial configuration scheme such as PS or fast AS, the configuration
time is the same whether or not you have enabled the design security feature. A ×4
DCLK
is required if you use the FPP scheme with the design security feature.
Cyclone III devices support remote system upgrade in AS and AP configuration
schemes. Cyclone III LS devices only support remote system upgrade in the AS
configuration scheme.
This section only describes the decompression feature. For more information about
the design security and remote system upgrade, refer to
and
1
1
Configuration Data Decompression
Cyclone III device family supports configuration data decompression, which saves
configuration memory space and time. This feature allows you to store compressed
configuration data in configuration devices or other memory and send the
compressed bitstream to Cyclone III device family. During configuration, Cyclone III
device family decompress the bitstream in real time and program SRAM cells. The
decompression feature is not supported when you have enabled the design security
feature.
1
Compression may reduce the configuration bitstream size by 35 to 55%.
Cyclone III device family supports decompression in the AS and PS configuration
schemes. Decompression is not supported in the AP, FPP, or JTAG-based
configuration schemes. In PS mode, use the Cyclone III device family decompression
feature to reduce configuration time.
1
Altera recommends using the Cyclone III device family decompression feature during
AS configuration if you must save configuration memory space in the serial
configuration device.
August 2012
Altera Corporation
Cyclone III Device Handbook
Volume 1
ALTERA [ ALTERA CORPORATION ]
