Dev Kits-Cables - Altera Corporation

Altera Corporation 1

MasterBlaster Serial/USB

Communications Cable

April 2001, ver. 2.0 Data Sheet

A-DS-MASTERBL-2.0

Development

Tools

L02-04801-01

Features

■

Supports the SignalTap

embedded logic analyzer in the

Quartus

II software

■

Allows PC and UNIX users to perform the following functions:

– Configure Mercury

, APEX

II, APEX

20K, FLEX

10K,

FLEX 3000A, FLEX 6000, FLEX 8000 devices, and Excalibur

embedded processor solutions

– Program MAX

9000, MAX 7000S, MAX 7000B, MAX 7000A,

and EPC2 devices in-system

■

Supports operation with V

at 5.0 V, 3.3 V, or 2.5 V

■

Provides a fast, low-cost method for in-system programming

■

Downloads data from the Quartus II development software and the

MAX+PLUS

II software versions 9.3 and higher

■

Interfaces with an RS-232 serial or universal serial bus (USB) port

■

Uses a 10-pin circuit board connector, which is compatible with the

the ByteBlasterMV

parallel port download cable

Functional

Description

The MasterBlaster

communications cable (ordering code:

PL-MASTERBLASTER) is a standard PC serial or USB port hardware

interface (see Figure 1). This cable downloads configuration data to

APEX II, APEX 20K (including APEX 20K, APEX 20KE, and

APEX 20KC), FLEX 10K (including FLEX 10KA and FLEX 10KE),

FLEX 8000, and FLEX 6000 devices, as well as programming data to

MAX 9000, MAX 7000S, and MAX 7000A (including MAX 7000AE)

devices. Because design changes are downloaded directly to the device,

prototyping is easy and multiple design iterations can be accomplished in

quick succession. The MasterBlaster cable also supports in-circuit

debugging with the SignalTap embedded logic analyzer in APEX II and

APEX 20K devices.

2 Altera Corporation

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Figure 1. MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable

Download Modes

The MasterBlaster cable provides two download modes:

■

Passive serial (PS) mode—Used for configuring APEX II, APEX 20K,

and FLEX devices

■

JTAG mode—Industry-standard IEEE Std. 1149.1 Joint Test Action

Group (JTAG) interface for programming JTAG-capable MAX and

serial configuration devices (i.e., EPC2) in-system or configuring

APEX II, APEX 20K, and FLEX devices

SignalTap Logic Analysis

The SignalTap megafunction is an embedded logic analyzer, capturing

device data at specified trigger points and storing the data in APEX II and

APEX 20K embedded system blocks (ESBs). This data is then sent to the

JTAG IEEE Std. 1149.1 port of an APEX II or APEX 20K device, uploaded

through the MasterBlaster communications cable, and displayed in the

Quartus II Waveform Editor.

For more information on the SignalTap megafunction, see the

SignalTap

Embedded Logic Analyzer Megafunction Data Sheet.

Altera Corporation 3

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Development

Tools

MasterBlaster Connections

The MasterBlaster cable connects to a computer through a serial or USB

port, and connects to the circuit board through a standard 10-pin female

connector. Data is downloaded from the serial or USB port through the

MasterBlaster cable to the circuit board through the connections discussed

in this section.

Header & Plug Connections

The 9-pin male D-type connector connects to an RS-232 port with a

standard serial cable. See Table 1.

The USB connector can be used with any standard USB cable.

For more information on 9-pin versus 25-pin serial connectors, search for

“9-pin or 25-pin serial connectors” in the Altera

solutions database at

http://www.altera.com

The 10-pin female plug connects to a 10-pin male header on the circuit

board containing the target device(s). Figure 2 shows the dimensions of

the female plug.

LED Status

The purpose of the LED indicator lights located on the MasterBlaster

download cable is to provide information about the status of the

MasterBlaster cable. Table 2 lists the indicator and status of the

MasterBlaster cable.

Table 1. MasterBlaster 9-Pin Serial D-Type Connector Pin-Outs

Pin Signal Name Description

Receive data

Transmit data

dtr

Data terminal ready

GND

Signal ground

dsr

Data set ready

rts

Request to send

cts

Clear to send

4 Altera Corporation

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Figure 2. MasterBlaster 10-Pin Female Plug Dimensions

Dimensions are shown in inches. The spacing between pin centers is 0.1 inches.

Table 3 identifies the 10-pin female plug’s pin names for the

corresponding download mode.

Table 2. LED Status Indicator

Color Blink Frequency Description

Green Slow Cable ready

Green Fast Performing a logic analysis

Amber Slow Programming in progress

0.250 Typ.

0.700 Typ.

0.425 Typ.

0.100 Sq.

0.025 Sq.

olor Stri

0.250 Typ.

0.700 Typ.

0.425 Typ.

0.100 Sq.

0.025 Sq.

olor Stri

Altera Corporation 5

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Development

Tools

Powering the MasterBlaster Cable

Older download cables received their power from the circuit board only.

In contrast, the MasterBlaster cable can receive power from the following

sources:

■

5.0-V or 3.3-V circuit boards

■

DC power supply

■

5.0 V from the USB cable

When 5.0-V or 3.3-V power is not available on the circuit board, the

MasterBlaster cable can be powered by either DC power or the USB cable.

For the MasterBlaster cable’s output drivers, connect the circuit

board’s V

and ground to the MasterBlaster cable’s

VCC

VIO

and

GND

pins.

Circuit Board Header Connection

The MasterBlaster cable’s 10-pin female plug connects to a 10-pin male

header on the circuit board. The 10-pin male header has two rows of five

pins, which are connected to the device’s programming or configuration

pins. Figure 3 shows the dimensions of a typical 10-pin male header.

Table 3. MasterBlaster Female Plug’s Pin Names & Download Modes

Pin PS Mode JTAG Mode

Signal Name Description Signal Name Description

DCLK

Clock signal

TCK

Clock signal

GND

Signal ground

GND

Signal ground

CONF_DONE

Configuration control

TDO

Data from device

VCC

Power supply

VCC

Power supply

nCONFIG

Configuration control

TMS

JTAG state machine control

VIO

Reference voltage for

MasterBlaster output driver

VIO

Reference voltage for

MasterBlaster output driver

nSTATUS

Configuration status –No connect

8–No connect –No connect

DATA0

Data to device

TDI

Data to device

GND

Signal ground

GND

Signal ground

6 Altera Corporation

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Figure 3. 10-Pin Male Header Dimensions

Dimensions are shown in inches.

Operating

Conditions

Tables 4 through 6 summarize the absolute maximum ratings,

recommended operating conditions, and DC operating conditions for the

MasterBlaster cable.

0.025 Sq.

0.235

0.100

Side View

0.100

Top View

Table 4. MasterBlaster Cable Absolute Maximum Ratings

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

Supply voltage With respect to ground –0.5 7.0 V

DC input voltage With respect to ground –0.5 7.0 V

Table 5. MasterBlaster Cable Recommended Operating Conditions

Notes (1), (2)

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

Board header supply

voltage, 5.0-V operation 4.5 5.5 V

Board header supply

voltage, 3.3-V operation 3.0 3.6 V

Table 6. MasterBlaster Cable DC Operating Conditions (Part 1 of 2)

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

VIH High-level input voltage VCC = VIO 0.25 × VIO + 0.3 V V

VIL Low-level input voltage VCC = VIO 0.25 × VIO V

Altera Corporation 7

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

Development

Tools

Notes to tables:

(1) The DC adapter supply voltage has a minimum value of 3.0 V, a maximum value of 16.0 V, and a power

consumption of 1 W (VCC can be at 5.0 V, 3.3 V, or 2.5 V).

(2) The 5.0-V USB cable supply voltage has a minimum value of 4.5 V and a maximum value of 5.5 V (VCC can be at

5.0 V, 3.3 V, or 2.5 V).

References For more information on conﬁguration and in-system programmability

(ISP), see the following sources:

■Application Note 116 (Configuring APEX 20K, FLEX 10K & FLEX 6000

Devices)

■Application Note 33 (Configuring FLEX 8000 Devices)

■Application Note 38 (Configuring Multiple FLEX 8000 Devices)

■Application Note 39 (IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) Boundary-Scan Testing in

Altera Devices)

■Application Note 95 (In-System Programmability in MAX Devices)

■Application Note 100 (In-System Programmability Guidelines)

■APEX 20K Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

■FLEX 10K Embedded Programmable Logic Family Data Sheet

■FLEX 8000 Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

■FLEX 6000 Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

VOH 5.0-V high-level TTL

output voltage TTL load. VCC = VIO = 4.5 V,

IOH = 8 mA 3.2 V

3.3-V high-level TTL

output voltage TTL load. VCC = VIO = 3.0 V,

IOH = 4 mA 2.4 V

5.0-V high-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 4.5 V,

IOH = 0.1 mA 4.0 V

3.3-V high-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 3.0 V,

IOH = 0.1 mA 2.7 V

2.5-V high-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 2.3 V,

IOH = 0.1 mA 2.0 V

VOL 5.0-V low-level TTL output

voltage TTL load. VCC = VIO = 4.5 V,

IOL = 8 mA 0.4 V

3.3-V low-level TTL output

voltage TTL load. VCC = VIO = 3.0 V,

IOL = 4 mA 0.4 V

5.0-V low-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 4.5 V,

IOL = 0.1 mA 0.1 V

3.3-V low-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 3.0 V,

IOL = 0.1 mA 0.1 V

2.5-V low-level CMOS

output voltage CMOS load. VCC = VIO = 2.3 V,

IOL = 0.1 mA 0.1 V

P Operating power 1.0 W

Table 6. MasterBlaster Cable DC Operating Conditions (Part 2 of 2)

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

Altera, APEX, APEX II, APEX 20K, APEX 20KE, APEX 20KC, BitBlaster, ByteBlasterMV, Excalibur, FLEX,

FLEX 10K, FLEX 10KA, FLEX 10KE, FLEX 8000, FLEX 6000, MasterBlaster, MAX, MAX+PLUS, MAX+PLUS II,

MAX 9000, MAX 7000, MAX 7000A, MAX 7000AE, MAX 7000S, Mercury, Quartus, Quartus II, and SignalTap

are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera. ARM and the ARM logo are registered trademarks of ARM

Limited. Corporation in the United States and other countries. Altera acknowledges the trademarks of other

organizations for their respective products or services mentioned in this document. Altera products are

protected under numerous U.S. and foreign patents and pending applications, maskwork rights, and

copyrights. Altera warrants performance of its semiconductor products to current specifications in accordance

with Altera’s standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products

and services at any time without notice. Altera assumes no responsibility or liability arising

out of the application or use of any information, product, or service described herein except

as expressly agreed to in writing by Altera Corporation. Altera customers are advised to

obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published

information and before placing orders for products or services.

101 Innovation Drive

San Jose, CA 95134

(408) 544-7000

http://www.altera.com

Applications Hotline:

(800) 800-EPLD

Customer Marketing:

(408) 544-7104

Literature Services:

lit_req@altera.com

MasterBlaster Serial/USB Communications Cable Data Sheet

8 Altera Corporation

Printed on Recycled Paper.

■MAX 9000 Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

■MAX 7000 Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

■MAX 7000A Programmable Logic Device Family Data Sheet

■Search for “Configuring a Single Device with the BitBlasterTM,

ByteBlaster, or FLEX Download Cable,” “Setting Up Multi-Device

JTAG Chains,” “Configuring Multiple Devices in a JTAG Chain with

the BitBlaster or ByteBlasterMV,” and “Programming Multiple

Devices in a JTAG Chain with the BitBlaster or ByteBlasterMV” in the

MAX+PLUS II Help menu.

■The Quartus Installation & Licensing manual for information on how

to install the MasterBlaster cable.