Nios® V Processor: Lockstep Implementation User Guide

ID 833274
Date 4/17/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents

3.2.5.2. Extended Reset Control

The Extended Reset Control uses the Dedicated Reset Controller to manage the Power-On Reset and Warm Reset requests. These requests come from the fRSmartComp through the Extended Reset Interface and other units.
Figure 17. Extended Reset Control

The figure shows multiple connections from the Dedicated Reset Controller to the respective modules. The associated reset signals are categorized based on color, and the table below explains their respective functions.

Table 29.  Reset Signals of Extended Reset Control

Modules

Reset Signals

Direction

(Respect to Dedicated Reset Controller)

Description

Power-On Reset

Host CPU reset Output Generated by Dedicated Reset Controller upon a Power-On Reset.
fRSmartComp ARSTn Output
Agent CPU reset_r Output

Warm Reset

Host CPU
  • cpu_resetreq.resetreq
  • cpu_resetreq.ack
  • Output
  • Input

Upon a Warm Reset from either fRSmartComp or other units, Dedicated Reset Controller:

  • Send CPU reset request to Host CPU.
  • Receive acknowledgement from Host CPU.
fRSmartComp RREQL Input

Dedicated Reset Controller receives the Host CPU Warm Reset request from fRSmartComp.

RREQR Input

Dedicated Reset Controller receives the Agent CPU Warm Reset request from fRSmartComp.

RACKL Output

Dedicated Reset Controller sends an acknowledgement to the fRSmartComp.

RACKR Output

Dedicated Reset Controller sends an acknowledgement to the fRSmartComp.

Agent CPU
  • reset_req_r
  • reset_req_ack_r
  • Output
  • Input

Upon a Warm Reset from either fRSmartComp or other units, the Dedicated Reset Controller:

  • Sends CPU reset request to Agent CPU.
  • Receives an acknowledgement from Agent CPU.

When the fRSmartComp wants to reset the CPUs (Host, Agent or both), it activates the request signals (RREQL and/or RREQR). Then, the fRSmartComp waits for an acknowledgment (RACKL or RACKR or both) from the Dedicated Reset Controller. When reset acknowledgement is received, it automatically removes the reset request. The fRSmartComp always asserts and de-asserts RREQL together with RREQR (same clock cycle).

In addition to that, the Agent CPU is brought out of asynchronous reset at least 2 clock cycles more after the Host CPU (to manage the Time Diversity).

Figure 18. Example of Warm Reset Protocol Handshake between fRSmartComp and Dedicated Reset ControllerAssuming the Dedicated Reset Controller implements on a combination logic using OR gate (Refer to the Figure Example of Simple Extended Reset Control.)

Altera recommends the following best practices in using the Dedicated Reset Controller:

  • In the Dedicated Reset Controller, assert the CPU reset request until the CPU asserts the acknowledgment signal.
  • The Dedicated Reset Controller must always signals the fRSmartComp when a specific CPU is being reset by activating the corresponding RACK*, even if the Warm Reset request originates from other units instead of the fRSmartComp. This ensures that the fRSmartComp is aware of any reset actions, allowing it to interpret the signals from the processor correctly.