EclaireXL

h1. Flashing using the USB blaster

Its possible to flash the .sof using the USB blaster, but this only lasts until the board is restarted.

To do this:

#Connect power to the board

#Connect the jtag

#In quartus go to tools->programmer

#In the programmer select 'add file' and choose the .sof file

#Tell it to start

To store on the flash chip you need to make a .jic file. The v1 board has a chip compatible with the EPCQ128. The v3 board has a chip compatible with the EPCS128.

h2. Making a jic file from a sof

I now tend to always make and post .jic files with each release, so this is really just a FYI.

# In quartus go to file->convert programming files

# Select programming file type 'jtag indirect programming file'

# Select configuration device (v1:EPCQ128, v3:EPCS128, v3.1:??)

# Select mode: Active serial

# Set appropriate file name

# In 'input files to convert' select 'flash loader' and click 'add device' on the right

# Select 'Cyclone V' on left and the correct FPGA on the right (v1: 5CEBA2, v3: 5CEBA4)

# In 'input files to convert' select 'sof data' and click 'add file'

# Select the .sof file to convert 

# Select properties on the new line and enable 'compression'

# All done, click ok to save .jic file

# Then flash using the programmer as you would with a .sof - it takes longer but it will last over a reboot

Alternatively I'll post .jics from time to time...