USB-Blaster Cable Definition

A USB port download cable that allows PC users to program and configure devices in-system. The USB-Blaster cable provides configuration support for FPGA devices and programming support for CPLD devices, such as MAX3000 and MAX7000 devices, configuration devices, such as the EPC2 and EPC16, and serial configuration devices, such as the EPCS1 and EPCS4. You can also use the USB-Blaster cable to run Signal Tap logic analysis. The USB-Blaster cable provides support for Passive Serial, JTAG, and Active Serial Programming modes. The USB-Blaster cable requires 5.0V from the USB cable and between 1.5V and 5.0V from the target circuit board.

The USB-Blaster cable is connected to a PC USB port via a universal USB plug, and to a 10-pin male header on the circuit board containing the target device (s) via a 10-pin female plug. Programming or configuration data can be downloaded with the Quartus^® Prime Programmer. Connection specifications can be found in the USB-Blaster Download Cable User Guide.

The USB-Blaster cable has the same functionality as the ByteBlasterMV cable, with additional functionality that provides programming support for serial configuration devices. The USB-Blaster cable has the same functionality as the ByteBlasterII cable and the EthernetBlaster cable, except the USB-Blaster cable uses a USB port while the ByteBlasterII cable uses a parallel port and the EthernetBlaster cable uses an Ethernet connection.