About Flash Loaders

You can use flash loaders to program Altera devices. The Serial Flash Loader scheme allows in-system programming of serial configuration devices. Because serial configuration devices do not support the JTAG interface, you should program them via the Active Serial programming interface. With the Active Serial programming interface, you use programming hardware to download the configuration data for programming serial configuration devices. However, with the Serial Flash Loader you can program serial configuration devices in-system via the JTAG interface. To do so, use an FPGA device as a bridge between the JTAG interface and the serial configuration device.

High-density FPGA devices require more configuration storage from a parallel flash loader. The MAX II Parallel Flash Loader feature in MAX II devices provides an easy way to program CFI flash memory devices through the JTAG interface, and the logic to control configuration from the flash memory device to the FPGA device.

You can attach flash devices to the list of devices in the Programmer with the command or the command. The device in the Device list to which you attach a flash device must contain an SFL or PFL IP block.

The dialog box allows you to create necessary support files for a Serial Flash Loader or to generate configuration data for a Parallel Flash Loader. The two flash loading schemes are available for in-system JTAG programming of Altera devices. The following sections describe the two programming schemes.

With the Serial Flash Loader programming scheme, you can program Altera serial configuration devices, which you can then use to configure the Cyclone IV family.

The Serial Flash Loader scheme enables IP in an FPGA device that acts as a bridge between the JTAG interface and the Active Serial interface of the serial configuration device.

Note: You can instantiate the altserial_flash_loader megafunction into your design with the IP Catalog.

You can use the Programmer to generate the necessary Serial Flash Loader IP when you convert an SRAM Object File (.sof) into the JTAG Indirect Configuration File (.jic) (for use with the Quartus II Programmer) or JAM File (.jam) (for use with the Jam player), which you use to enable the Serial Flash Loader scheme.

Using the Convert Programming Files dialog box, you can create a JTAG Indirect Configuration File, which contains a configuration image of the Serial Flash Loader IP. You can use the Create JAM, SVF, or ISC File dialog box to create a Jam File that contains the programming data for the erasable programmable configurable serial (EPCS) device. You use these files to configure a target FPGA device. You can then program the configuration device via the JTAG interface. The configuration device can then reconfigure the FPGA device with the programmed configuration data.

The Parallel Flash Loader scheme provides an in-system JTAG programming method for flash devices that have the common flash interface (CFI). You can then use these flash devices to reconfigure one or more MAX II devices.

The Parallel Flash Loader scheme enables IP in a MAX II device, which acts as a bridge between the JTAG interface and the parallel interface of the flash device. Data travels from your computer to the Parallel Flash Loader IP, which the Parallel Flash Loader scheme in the MAX II device recognizes. The data passes through the MAX II device to the device being configured.

You can direct the Programmer to generate the necessary Parallel Flash Loader IP when you convert an SRAM Object File into the Programmer Object File (.pof) (for use with the Quartus II Programmer) required to enable the Parallel Flash Loader scheme.

You can use the Parallel Flash Loader scheme to program a parallel configuration device.

Note: You can instantiate the altparallel_flash_loader megafunction into your design with the IP Catalog.

You configure the Parallel Flash Loader IP into the MAX II device prior to programming the common flash interface device. You use the JTAG interface to program the common flash interface flash device. You can then use the programmed configuration data in the MAX II device to reconfigure the FPGA device.

The Parallel Flash Loader scheme supports burst mode, which allows you to configure flash devices quicker with the altparallel_flash_loader megafunction.

You can use the altparallel_flash_loader megafunction to program up to 16 flash devices in one of the following operating modes: