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SD/MMC/SPIflash FPGA Config: Overview Details Name: fpgaconfig Created: 07-Jan-2007 23:37:53 Updated: 13-Apr-2008 22:50:44 CVS: no files in cvs Other project properties Category :: Other Language :: Other Development status :: Production/Stable Project maintainers Steve Fielding Statistics view News See fpgaConfig used in a complete project at: http://www.opencores.org/projects.cgi/web/openriscdevboard Description Configure Altera and Xilinx FPGAs using a small low cost micro-controller and commodity SD/MMC/SPI flash memory. There are already solutions available that use a CPLD and SD/MMC/SPI flash memory, but this scheme uses a very small C8051 micro-controller in place of the CPLD, and this has several advantages. 1. Smaller. C8051 is available in a 4mm x 4mm package. 2. Very few additional components. eg C8051 has internal oscillator. 3. Less programming headers. Only one small header required. 4. A local microprocessor can be connected to the C8051 UART port, and program the flash memory using a few simple commands. Downloads configuration files at 2Mbps. For example a Cyclone EP1C20 can be configured in under 2 seconds. The total solution is very compact requiring only 2 ICs, 1 programming header, 1 resistor, and 2 capacitors. To program the SD/MMC/SPI flash memory on your target hardware, you can purchase the Base2Designs USB2Flash programming adapter (http://www.base2designs-store.com). Features Low cost. Customer can upgrade hardware by replacing SD card. Wide choice of flash memory manufacturers. Large flash memory capacity. Flash memory can be used to store large software images. Fail safe in field re-programming. Status Release 1.0 available. Tested with Altera and Xilinx FPGAs. Download from http://www.opencores.org/pdownloads.cgi/list/fpgaconfig If there is enough interest I will port the C8051 firmware to a USB capable microcontroller. This would allow end customers to upgrade their hardware directly from a PC.