Clocking and PLL User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs

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ID 847921
Date 9/12/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Overview 2. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Architecture and Features 3. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Design Considerations 4. Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP Core 5. IOPLL FPGA IP 6. I/O PLL Reconfiguration 7. Document Revision History for the Clocking and PLL User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs
1. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Overview x
1.1. Clock Networks Overview 1.2. PLLs Overview
2. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Architecture and Features x
2.1. Clock Networks Architecture and Features 2.2. PLLs Architecture and Features
2.1. Clock Networks Architecture and Features x
2.1.1. Clock Network Architecture 2.1.2. Clock Resources 2.1.3. Clock Control Features
2.1.1. Clock Network Architecture x
2.1.1.1. Clock Network Hierarchy 2.1.1.2. Clock Sectors 2.1.1.3. Programmable Clock Routing
2.1.3. Clock Control Features x
2.1.3.1. Clock Gating 2.1.3.2. Clock Divider
2.1.3.1. Clock Gating x
2.1.3.1.1. Root Clock Gate 2.1.3.1.2. Sector Clock Gate 2.1.3.1.3. I/O PLL Clock Gate 2.1.3.1.4. LAB Clock Gate
2.2. PLLs Architecture and Features x
2.2.1. PLL Features 2.2.2. PLL Usage 2.2.3. PLL Locations 2.2.4. PLL Architecture 2.2.5. PLL Control Signals 2.2.6. PLL Feedback Modes 2.2.7. Clock Multiplication and Division 2.2.8. Programmable Phase Shift 2.2.9. Programmable Duty Cycle 2.2.10. PLL Cascading 2.2.11. PLL Input Clock Switchover 2.2.12. PLL Reconfiguration and Dynamic Phase Shift 2.2.13. PLL Calibration
2.2.5. PLL Control Signals x
2.2.5.1. Reset 2.2.5.2. Locked
2.2.6. PLL Feedback Modes x
2.2.6.1. Direct Compensation Mode 2.2.6.2. LVDS Compensation Mode 2.2.6.3. Source Synchronous Compensation Mode 2.2.6.4. Normal Compensation Mode 2.2.6.5. Zero-Delay Buffer Mode 2.2.6.6. External Feedback Mode
2.2.11. PLL Input Clock Switchover x
2.2.11.1. Automatic Switchover 2.2.11.2. Automatic Switchover with Manual Override 2.2.11.3. Manual Clock Switchover
2.2.13. PLL Calibration x
2.2.13.1. Power-Up Calibration 2.2.13.2. User Calibration 2.2.13.3. Static Phase Error Calibration
3. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Design Considerations x
3.1. Guidelines: Clock Switchover 3.2. Guidelines: Timing Closure 3.3. Guidelines: Resetting the PLL 3.4. Guidelines: Configuration Constraints 3.5. Clocking Constraints 3.6. IP Constraints 3.7. Guideline: Achieving 5% Duty Cycle for fOUT_EXT ≥ 300 MHz Using tx_outclk Port from LVDS SERDES IP
4. Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP Core x
4.1. Release Information for Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP 4.2. Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP Parameters 4.3. Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP Ports and Signals
5. IOPLL FPGA IP x
5.1. Release Information for IOPLL FPGA IP 5.2. IOPLL FPGA IP Parameters 5.3. IOPLL IP Ports and Signals
5.2. IOPLL FPGA IP Parameters x
5.2.1. IOPLL IP Parameters - PLL Tab 5.2.2. IOPLL IP Parameters - Settings Tab 5.2.3. IOPLL IP Parameters - Cascading Tab 5.2.4. IOPLL IP Parameters - Advanced Parameters Tab
6. I/O PLL Reconfiguration x
6.1. Implementing HSIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration using EMIF Calibration IP 6.2. Implementing HVIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration 6.3. Address Bus and Data Bus Settings
6.1. Implementing HSIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration using EMIF Calibration IP x
6.1.1. Release Information for EMIF Calibration IP 6.1.2. Setting Up the IOPLL FPGA IP 6.1.3. Setting Up the EMIF Calibration IP 6.1.4. Connectivity Between IOPLL FPGA IP and EMIF Calibration IP 6.1.5. Axilite Interface Ports in the EMIF Calibration IP 6.1.6. Reconfiguration Guideline for HSIO I/O PLLs 6.1.7. Design Example for HSIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration
6.1.6. Reconfiguration Guideline for HSIO I/O PLLs x
6.1.6.1. Enabling Reconfiguration for The Desired I/O PLL 6.1.6.2. Clearing off Calibration Statuses 6.1.6.3. Reconfiguring The I/O PLL 6.1.6.4. Recalibration of I/O PLL 6.1.6.5. Clock Gating (Optional)
6.1.7. Design Example for HSIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration x
6.1.7.1. Reconfiguration Option: Reconfiguration Through EMIF Calibration IP 6.1.7.2. Reconfiguration Option: Clock Gating Reconfiguration
6.2. Implementing HVIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration x
6.2.1. Setting Up the IOPLL FPGA IP 6.2.2. Reconfiguration Guideline for HVIO I/O PLLs 6.2.3. Design Example for HVIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration
6.2.2. Reconfiguration Guideline for HVIO I/O PLLs x
6.2.2.1. Read and Write Operations via Avalon® Memory-Mapped Interface 6.2.2.2. Enabling Reconfiguration for The Desired I/O PLL 6.2.2.3. Clearing off Calibration Statuses 6.2.2.4. Reconfiguring The I/O PLL 6.2.2.5. Enabling Recalibration for HVIO PLLs 6.2.2.6. Requesting Recalibration of I/O PLL 6.2.2.7. Clock Gating (Optional)
6.2.3. Design Example for HVIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration x
6.2.3.1. Reconfiguration Option: Reconfiguration Through EMIF Calibration IP 6.2.3.2. Reconfiguration Option: Clock Gating Reconfiguration
6.3. Address Bus and Data Bus Settings x
6.3.1. Divide Settings and the Corresponding Data Bit Setting for Reconfiguration 6.3.2. Data Bus Setting for Clock Gating Reconfiguration 6.3.3. Data Bus Setting For Charge Pump Current
1. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Overview
2. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Architecture and Features
3. Agilex™ 3 Clocking and PLL Design Considerations
4. Clock Control Altera™ FPGA IP Core
5. IOPLL FPGA IP
6. I/O PLL Reconfiguration
7. Document Revision History for the Clocking and PLL User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs

6. I/O PLL Reconfiguration

Agilex™ 3 devices support phase-locked loop (PLL) reconfiguration and dynamic phase shifting for I/O PLLs, allowing you to adjust PLL settings in real-time while the device operates in user mode. This feature allows changes to PLL divide settings without requiring a full FPGA reconfiguration. The I/O PLL architecture uses divide counters (N, M, and C) and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to generate the desired output phase and frequency.

Reconfiguration methods vary by block type:

  • HSIO I/O PLLs — Divide settings are reconfigured via the AXI4-Lite interface through the EMIF Calibration IP.
  • HVIO I/O PLLs — Divide settings are reconfigured directly through the reconfiguration ports using the Avalon® memory-mapped interface.

Key capabilities:

  • I/O PLL Reconfiguration
    • Enable dynamic reconfiguration of PLL the dynamic reconfiguration tab of the IOPLL FPGA IP to reconfigure the individual I/O PLL registers. You can also perform dynamic phase shift.
  • Recalibration of the I/O PLL
    • Perform recalibration of the I/O PLL without any reconfiguration.
    • Trigger recalibration if the reference clock frequency changes.
  • I/O PLL clock gating
    • Gate and un-gate I/O PLL output clock 0 to output clock 6 of the I/O PLL.

For all three functions, the reconfiguration operation is controlled by specific data bits stored at designated register addresses. If configuration parameters are set to illegal settings, the I/O PLL may lose lock, causing device reliability issues. Altera recommends following these guidelines strictly:

  • Ensure the configuration setting is a legal value so that the I/O PLL has a legal configuration. To ensure your configuration is legal, refer to the IOPLL IP Core Parameters - Advanced Parameters Tab table for correct settings.
  • If the value you are reconfiguring is only part of the 32-bit register at the specified address in the I/O PLL’s internal memory, perform a read-modify-write operation and make sure you do not overwrite the other bits of the register.
  • After dynamic reconfiguration, manually trigger the recalibration of the I/O PLL, as it is necessary to recalibrate it. You do not need to perform recalibration for clock gating or dynamic phase shift reconfiguration.

Section Content
Implementing HSIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration using EMIF Calibration IP
Implementing HVIO I/O PLL Reconfiguration
Address Bus and Data Bus Settings

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