[SOLVED] Problem with programming Actel FPGA AGL250V-FG144I

[elenappli]

Hi I just got a custom fpga board in house and I am having trouble programming it.
I am using Actel's(Microsemi) IGLOO AGL250V-FG144I. There is a 10-pin jtag header on board. To program I am using Actel's FlashPro3. It has a 12 pin jtag header, with an extra pin called VJTAGENB that is for IGLOOnano device so I have left that pin unconnected. When I go to program the device I get the following error messages.

Error: programmer '71917' : Signal Integrity Failure
Integrity Check Pattern Not Found.
Integrity Check Pattern :
550FAAF000FF0000FFFF
IrScan Error.
TDO stuck at 0
Chain Analysis Failed.
Error: programmer '71917' : Data Bit length : 8272
Error: programmer '71917' : Compare Data : 00010808000024000041144885248008068649....
Error: programmer '71917' : Scan Chain FAILED.

I have scoped out the jtag lines pictures are below:
TCK and TDI

TCK and TDO

TCK and TMS

TCK and TRST

The Volt per grid line is 1V

I have tried two boards and they both get the same error and the scope plots look the same. According to microsemi's app note on programming with flashpro this error could indicate a bad TDO connections. Are there any other possible causes? The TMS and TR plots look wrong were TDO looks right. Any advice on how to further debug this?

Thanks!

 

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I think we need a schematic of the board.

Your TCK is not being driven to 2.5V it's only about 1.25V and it looks like it's pulled up to 2.5V (as are all other JTAG signals). If you're running a 1.25V JTAG you should pull it up to 1.25V, but I imagine you are actually running it at 2.5V, which is a pretty standard voltage to run JTAG.

TMS is not transitioning on the correct edge of TCK (at least the leading transition, the other transitions occur between the rising to falling edge of TCK. Are you absolutely sure you have the signals connected correctly?

The signal on the TCK & TDO trace is only a half cycle wide. That's not a normal JTAG signal.

Show the schematic, and post a link to the programmer.
I think you have something wired up wrong, or you're plugging the JTAG header in backwards.

Regards

 

[elenappli]

Here are the relevant parts of the schematic:
This is my board




This is the programmer's JTAG header

It is the FlashPro3, they have a newer one the FlashPro4 so the datasheet is not on their website anymore. Below are links to the quickstart card for it and the datasheet for the the IGLOO nano Starter Kit which use the FlashPro3
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=yLW3Y54e4PdLpNqbq9WF0A&bvm=bv.67229260,d.cWc

http://www.actel.com/documents/IGLOO_nano_StarterKit_UG.pdf

On page 27 they have the pins for the FlashPro3(LCP)

Since the board header does not match the program header I have each header wired to a breadboard to correctly route the correct signals together. I have checked several times and I am sure have the jtag connectors connected correctly, unless there is a mistake in the layout which I didn't do but I have check with the guy who did it or I am not suppose to use this programmer with anything besides the IGLOO nano.

Let me know if there is any other info you need, Thanks

 

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From what you've shown and that page 27 reference. Did you copy the "special LCPS" programming interface on your custom board? If so you probably shouldn't have done that, and used a standard JTAG interface for the FlashPro3. I'm wondering what you might be missing that is on the LCPS dongle.

Did you include the FP3 header on the custom board? I'd use that if you did.

Also I noticed the U8 Molex connector (why are you using U numbers for a connector?) has an odd numbering scheme. Most two row connector footprints are numbered with odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other side (e.g. look at the numbering on the LCPS Header). If the layout used the wrong footprint with the numbering like a standard connector the board might not be connected the way you think. I'd ohm out the connections to the that Molex to make sure they go where you think they do.

From the documentation you provided it seems that the parts are supposed to use a 1.2V programming interface, but you didn't show if you've pulled up the TCK, TDI, TDO, TMS, and TRST to 1.2V or 3.3V. Your schematic snippets don't show what is VPUMP and VJTAG are.

I also am curious if that is a 500 ohm series resistor on R8 & R9 as it's very hard to read. If so that shouldn't be there. I could see having something like a 22ohm or something to match the trace impedance , but nothing like 500 ohms.

Regards

 

[elenappli]

Yes, the header that is on the board different from the header on the FlashPro3
Here is the layout view of the header that is on my custom header board.
**broken link removed**
You are right the schematic does use an odd numbering scheme, sorry about the confusion.

Here is a picture of how I have my custom board and the FlashPro3 connected
**broken link removed**
I know it is not ideal. I am just working with what I was given.
To be clear, the VJTAGENB pin from the FlashPro3 is left unconnected. It is used for IGLOO nano devices because they use different voltages for programming and normal operation.
I am sure I have the signals connected correctly. I have also had another co-worker confirm.

Vpump and Vjtag are coming from the FPGA AGL250V2
http://www.actel.com/documents/IGLOO_DS.pdf

They should be 3.3V, they are on bank 2 and VCCIB2 is 3.3V
Though I scoped VPUMP and the FlashPro output says it detects it
"programmer '71917' : Vpump will not be driven from the programmer, an external voltage source has been detected that will provide Vpump."
but on a scope the line as always 0...
tck and vpump

tck and vjtag


R8 and R9 and 500 ohms. I believe the values are from the datasheet I linked above on page 152.

Though the table calls them tie-off resistance. Does that mean these JTAG pins have been disabled?

 

[elenappli]

You are right U8 does use a weird numbering scheme, here is the layout view


The header on my custom board and the header on the FlashPro 3 are different.
Here is a picture of how I have them attached.

I know it is not ideal but I am working with what I was given.
To be clear the VJTAGENB pin from the FlashPro3 is left unconnected, as it is for IGLOO nano devices.
I am sure I have them connected together correctly. I have had another co-worker confirm.

VJTAG and VPUMP are on bank 2 and VCCIB2 is 3.3V so they should be 3.3V
here is the datasheet for the device
http://www.actel.com/documents/IGLOO_DS.pdf
Here are pics for the lines scoped.
tck and vjtag

tck and vpump

Vpump seems to stay at 0 but the FlashPro software says it detects it.
"programmer '71917' : Vpump will not be driven from the programmer, an external voltage source has been detected that will provide Vpump."

R8 and R9 are 500 ohms. According to the tables on pg 152 of the datasheet linked above.

Although I am a little confused ed because the table calls them tie-off resistance. Does that mean that JTAG is disabled?

 

[elenappli]

The problem was that VJTAG and VPUMP were not supplied power at 3.3V. My co-worker who did the schematic and layout thought these pins outputted power but they needed to have power as inputs.