Intel® FPGA Download Cable Definition

The USB-Blaster is now the Intel® FPGA Download Cable.

A USB port download cable that allows PC users to program and configure devices in-system. The Intel® FPGA Download 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 Intel® FPGA Download Cable to run Signal Tap logic analysis. The Intel® FPGA Download Cable provides support for Passive Serial, JTAG, and Active Serial Programming modes. The Intel® FPGA Download Cable requires 5.0V from the USB cable and between 1.5V and 5.0V from the target circuit board.

The Intel® FPGA Download Cable connects 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. You can download programming or configuration data with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Programmer. For connection specifications, refer to the Intel® FPGA Download Cable (formerly USB Blaster) User Guide.

The Intel® FPGA Download Cable has the same functionality as the ByteBlasterMV cable, with additional functionality that provides programming support for serial configuration devices. The Intel® FPGA Download Cable cable has the same functionality as the Intel® FPGA Parallel Port Cable and the Intel® FPGA Ethernet Cable, except the Intel® FPGA Download Cable cable uses a USB port while the Intel® FPGA Parallel Port Cable uses a parallel port and the Intel® FPGA Ethernet Cable uses an Ethernet connection.

Note: On PCs running WindowsXP, the Windows operating system prompts you to locate the Intel® FPGA Download Cable driver. For more information, refer to the Intel® FPGA Download Cable (formerly USB Blaster) User Guide.