Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide

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ID 683698
Date 7/23/2021
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide
1. Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide x
1.1. Features 1.2. Device Support 1.3. Functional Description 1.4. Using the PFL IP Core 1.5. PFL IP Core In Embedded Systems 1.6. Third-party Programmer Support 1.7. Parameters 1.8. Signals 1.9. Specifications 1.10. Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide Archives 1.11. Document Revision History for the Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide
1.2. Device Support x
1.2.1. Supported Flash Memory Devices 1.2.2. Supported Schemes and Features
1.3. Functional Description x
1.3.1. Programming Flash Memory 1.3.2. Controlling Intel® FPGA Configuration from Flash Memory 1.3.3. Mapping PFL and Flash Address 1.3.4. Implementing Page in the Flash .pof 1.3.5. Using Enhanced Bitstream Compression and Decompression 1.3.6. Using Remote System Upgrade
1.3.1. Programming Flash Memory x
1.3.1.1. Programming CFI Flash 1.3.1.2. Programming Quad SPI Flash 1.3.1.3. Programming NAND Flash
1.3.4. Implementing Page in the Flash .pof x
1.3.4.1. Storing Option Bits
1.3.6. Using Remote System Upgrade x
1.3.6.1. Remote System Upgrade State Machine in the PFL IP Core 1.3.6.2. Implementing Remote System Upgrade with the PFL IP Core 1.3.6.3. User Watchdog Timer
1.4. Using the PFL IP Core x
1.4.1. Converting .sof Files to a .pof 1.4.2. Constraining PFL Timing 1.4.3. Simulating PFL Design 1.4.4. Programming Intel® CPLDs and Flash Memory Devices 1.4.5. Defining New CFI Flash Device 1.4.6. Programming Multiple Flash Memory Devices 1.4.7. Creating Jam Files for Intel® CPLDs and Flash Memory Device Programming
1.4.2. Constraining PFL Timing x
1.4.2.1. Constraining Clock Signal 1.4.2.2. Constraining Synchronous Input and Output Ports 1.4.2.3. Constraining Asynchronous Input and Output Ports, and Bidirectional Synchronous Ports 1.4.2.4. Summary of PFL Timing Constraints
1.4.3. Simulating PFL Design x
1.4.3.1. Creating a Test Bench File for PFL Simulation 1.4.3.2. Performing PFL Simulation in the ModelSim- Intel® FPGA Software 1.4.3.3. Performing PFL Simulation for FPGA Configuration
1.4.4. Programming Intel® CPLDs and Flash Memory Devices x
1.4.4.1. Programming Intel® CPLDs and Flash Memory Devices Separately
1.9. Specifications x
1.9.1. Configuration Time Calculation Examples
1. Parallel Flash Loader Intel® FPGA IP User Guide

1.3.5. Using Enhanced Bitstream Compression and Decompression

The enhanced bitstream compression and decompression feature in the PFL IP core reduces the size of the configuration file in the flash memory device. On average, you can reduce the file size by as much as 50% depending on the designs. When you turn on the enhanced bitstream compression feature, the PFL IP core disables data encryption.
Table 6.  Comparison Between Typical, Enhanced, and Double Compression
FPGA Configuration Typical Bitstream Compression Feature Enhanced Bitstream Compression Feature Double Compression Technique
FPGA on-chip bitstream decompression enabled Yes No Yes
PFL enhanced bitstream decompression enabled No Yes Yes
Typical configuration file size reduction 35%–55% 45%–75% 40%–60%
PS configuration time Moderate 12 Slow Moderate12
FPP configuration time Fast13 Very fast14 Not supported
Note: When using the PFL with compression, set the device MSEL pins set for compression or decompression. When generating or converting a programming file, you can enable compression. In the first few bytes during the generation of the programming file (with compression enabled), a bit set notifies the PFL that the incoming files is a compressed file. The ×4 DCLK-to-data are handled automatically in the PFL.
Note: For more information about the typical data compression feature, refer to the Configuration Data Decompression section in the configuration chapter of the relevant device handbook.

For the FPP configuration scheme, the enhanced bitstream compression feature helps achieve higher configuration data compression ratio and faster configuration time. For the PS configuration scheme, the double compression technique helps achieve higher configuration data compression ratio and moderate configuration time. To enable the double compression technique, turn on both the typical bitstream compression feature and the enhanced bitstream compression feature in the PFL parameter editor.

Figure 13. FPGA Configuration Data Flow with Enhanced Bitstream Compression Feature in PS or FPP Configuration Scheme
Figure 14. FPGA Configuration Data Flow with Double Compression Technique in PS Configuration Scheme
12 The FPGA receives compressed bitstream which decreases the duration to transmit the bitstream to the FPGA.
13 For FPP with on-chip bitstream decompression enabled, the DCLK frequency is ×2, ×4, or ×8 the data rate, depending on the device. You can check the relationship of the DCLK and data rate in the FPP Configuration section in the configuration chapter of the respective device handbook.
14 For FPP with enhanced bitstream decompression enabled, the DCLK frequency is ×1 the data rate.
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