Interface controller using JTAG scan chain

US7078929B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Altera Corporation · US

Inventors

• Andrew Draper · Grafton, GB
• Edward Flaherty · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2004
• Grant date: Jul 18, 2006
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/318555
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a programmable logic device system, including a programmable logic device, a configuration memory device, for storing configuration information, and a host computer system, for generating updated configuration information, the programmable logic device has a JTAG port, for connection to said host computer system, for receiving said updated configuration information, a JTAG port controller, operatively connected to the first JTAG port, and an SPI interface, for connection to said configuration memory device. The JTAG port controller comprises a scan chain, for controlling said SPI interface on the basis of information received from said host computer system. This allows a user of the host computer system to transfer updated configuration data to the configuration memory device by means of a connection from the host computer system to the JTAG port of the programmable logic device. Since the user will in any event require a connection from the host computer system to the JTAG port of the programmable logic device to allow testing of the device, this will avoid the need for the user to continually switch connections on the programmable logic device.