ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port

®
Download Cable

June 1999, ver. 1.01 Data Sheet

Features ■ Allows PC users to perform the following functions:

– Program MAX® 9000, MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, MAX 3000A
devices in-system via a standard parallel port
– Configure APEX™ 20K, FLEX® 10K (including FLEX 10KA and
FLEX 10KE), FLEX 8000, and FLEX 6000 devices
■ Supports operation while powered up with VCC at 3.3 V or 5.0 V
■ Provides a fast and low-cost method for in-system programming
■ Downloads data from the MAX+PLUS® II development software
■ Interfaces with a standard 25-pin parallel port on PCs
■ Uses a 10-pin circuit board connector, which is identical to that of the
ByteBlaster™ parallel port and BitBlaster™ serial download cables

Functional The ByteBlasterMV™ parallel port download cable (ordering code:

PL-BYTEBLASTERMV) is a hardware interface to a standard PC parallel
13
Description port (also known as an LPT port). This cable drives configuration data to

Development
APEX 20K, FLEX 10K (including FLEX 10KA and FLEX 10KE),

Tools
FLEX 8000, and FLEX 6000 devices, as well as programming data to
MAX 9000, MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, and MAX 3000A devices. Because
design changes are downloaded directly to the device, prototyping is easy
and multiple design iterations can be accomplished in quick succession.
See Figure 1.

Figure 1. ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable

MV
laster
ByteB

Altera Corporation 1
A-DS-BYTBLMV-01.01
L01-05942-00
ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

Download Modes
The ByteBlasterMV cable provides two download modes:

■ Passive serial (PS) mode—Used for configuring APEX 20K,

FLEX 10K, FLEX 8000, and FLEX 6000 devices
■ JTAG mode—Industry-standard Joint Test Action Group (JTAG)
interface for programming or configuring APEX 20K, FLEX 10K,
MAX 9000, MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, and MAX 3000A devices

ByteBlasterMV Connections
The ByteBlasterMV cable has a 25-pin male header that connects to the PC
parallel port, and a 10-pin female plug that connects to the circuit board.
Data is downloaded from the PC’s parallel port through the
ByteBlasterMV cable to the circuit board via the connections discussed in
this section.

1 To configure 2.5-V APEX 20K and FLEX 10KE devices using the
ByteBlasterMV download cable, connect the pull-up resistors to
a 3.3-V power supply, the cable’s VCC pin to a 3.3-V power
supply, and the device’s VCCINT pin to a 2.5-V power supply. For
PS configuration, the device’s VCCIO pin must be connected to a
2.5-V or 3.3-V power supply. The ByteBlasterMV VCC pin must
be connected to 3.3 V for either APEX 20K and FLEX 10KE JTAG
configuration, or MAX 7000A and MAX 3000A JTAG in-system
programming. The device VCCIO pin can be connected to either
a 2.5-V or 3.3-V power supply.

ByteBlasterMV Header & Plug Connections

The 25-pin male header connects to a parallel port with a standard parallel
cable. Table 1 identifies the pins and the download modes.

Table 1. ByteBlasterMV 25-Pin Header Pin-Outs

Pin PS Mode Signal Name JTAG Mode Signal Name

2 DCLK TCK
3 nCONFIG TMS
8 DATA0 TDI
11 CONF_DONE TDO
13 nSTATUS –
15 VCC VCC
18 to 25 GND GND

2 Altera Corporation
 ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

Figure 2 shows a schematic of the ByteBlasterMV download cable.

Figure 2. ByteBlasterMV Schematic

VCC 10-Pin Plug Connections
(2) VCC
4
VCC
(2) 7
25-Pin Male Header
3
Connections
74HC244 VCC
1G VCC
14 (1) GND
2G GND
9 (1) GND
1A1 1Y1
(1)
VCC VCC VCC 1A2 1Y2
(1)
1A3 1Y3
(2) (2) (2)
GND 1A4 1Y4
2 (1) (1) 1
2A1 2Y1
3 (1) (1) 5
2A2 2Y2
8 (1)
2A3 2Y3
(1) 9 13
2A4 2Y4
7

Development
GND 2, 10
10

Tools
GND
13 (1)
11 (1)
12 (1)
VCC
(2)
15

18-25

GND

Notes:
(1) All series resistors are 100 Ω.
(2) All pull-up resistors are 2.2 KΩ.

The 10-pin female plug connects to a 10-pin male header on the circuit
board containing the target device(s). Figure 3 shows the dimensions of
the female plug.

Altera Corporation 3
ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

Figure 3. ByteBlasterMV 10-Pin Female Plug Dimensions

Dimensions are shown in inches. The spacing between pin centers is 0.1 inch.

0.425 Typ.

Color Strip

1 3 5 7 9
0.250 Typ.
2 4 6 8 10

0.100 Sq. 0.025 Sq.

0.700 Typ.

Table 2 identifies the 10-pin female plug’s pin names for the
corresponding download mode.

Table 2. ByteBlasterMV Female Plug’s Pin Names & Download Modes

Pin PS Mode JTAG Mode

Signal Name Description Signal Name Description
1 DCLK Clock signal TCK Clock signal
2 GND Signal ground GND Signal ground
3 CONF_DONE Configuration TDO Data from device
control
4 VCC Power supply VCC Power supply
5 nCONFIG Configuration TMS JTAG state
control machine control
6 – No connect – No connect
7 nSTATUS Configuration – No connect
status
8 – No connect – No connect
9 DATA0 Data to device TDI Data to device
10 GND Signal ground GND Signal ground

1 The circuit board must supply VCC and ground to the

ByteBlasterMV cable.

4 Altera Corporation
 ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

Circuit Board Header Connection

The ByteBlasterMV 10-pin female plug connects to a 10-pin male header
on the circuit board. The 10-pin male header has two rows of five pins,
which are connected to the device’s programming or configuration pins.
The ByteBlasterMV cable receives power and downloads data via the
male header. Figure 4 shows the dimensions of a typical 10-pin male
header.

Figure 4. 10-Pin Male Header Dimensions

Dimensions are shown in inches.

Top View Side View

0.100 0.100 0.025 Sq.

0.235

13

Development
Tools
Operating The Tables 3 through 5 summarize the absolute maximum ratings,
recommended operating conditions, and DC operating conditions for the
Conditions ByteBlasterMV cable.

Table 3. ByteBlasterMV Cable Absolute Maximum Ratings

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

VCC Supply voltage With respect to ground –0.5 7.0 V
VI DC input voltage With respect to ground –0.5 7.0 V

Table 4. ByteBlasterMV Cable Recommended Operating Conditions

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

VCC Supply voltage, 5.0-V operation 4.5 5.5 V
Supply voltage, 3.3-V operation 3.0 3.6 V

Altera Corporation 5
ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

Table 5. ByteBlasterMV Cable DC Operating Conditions

Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Max Unit

VIH High-level input voltage VCC = 4.5 V 3.15 V
VCC = 3.0 V 2.1
VIL Low-level input voltage VCC = 4.5 V 1.35 V
VCC = 3.0 V 0.9
VOH 5.0-V high-level TTL output voltage TTL load. VCC = 4.5 V, IOH = 8 mA 3.80 V
3.3-V high-level TTL output voltage TTL load. VCC = 3.0 V, IOH = 4 mA 2.48 V
5.0-V high-level CMOS output CMOS load. VCC = 4.5 V, IOH = 50 µA 4.4 V
voltage
3.3-V high-level CMOS output CMOS load. VCC = 3.0 V, IOH = 50 µA 2.9 V
voltage
VOL 5.0-V low-level TTL output voltage TTL load. VCC = 4.5 V, IOL = 8 mA 0.44 V
3.3-V low-level TTL output voltage TTL load. VCC = 3.0 V, IOL = 4 mA 0.44 V
5.0-V low-level CMOS output voltage CMOS load. VCC = 4.5 V, IOL = 50 µA 0.1 V
3.3-V low-level CMOS output voltage CMOS load. VCC = 3.0 V, IOL = 50 µA 0.1 V
ICC Operating current 50 mA

Software The MAX+PLUS II Programmer downloads configuration or

programming data for FLEX 10K, FLEX 8000, FLEX 6000, MAX 9000,
Instructions MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, or MAX 3000A devices.

1 For Quartus™ Programmer instructions, please refer to Quartus

Help.

To configure or program one or more devices with the ByteBlasterMV

cable and the MAX+PLUS II Programmer, follow these steps:

1. Compile a project. The MAX+PLUS II Compiler automatically

generates an SOF for FLEX 10K, FLEX 8000, and FLEX 6000 device
configuration, or a POF for MAX 9000, MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, and
MAX 3000A device programming.

2. Attach the ByteBlasterMV cable to a parallel port on a PC and insert

the 10-pin female plug into the prototype system containing the
target device. The board must supply power to the ByteBlasterMV
cable.

1 For the Windows NT operating system, a driver must be installed

before using the ByteBlasterMV cable. Go to the MAX+PLUS II
Getting Started Manual for instructions on installing
ByteBlasterMV drivers.

6 Altera Corporation
 ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

3. Open the MAX+PLUS II Programmer. Choose the Hardware Setup

command (Options menu) to specify the ByteBlasterMV cable and
the appropriate LPT port. See “Changing the Hardware Setup” in
MAX+PLUS II Help for more information.

1 The MAX+PLUS II software automatically loads the

programming file for the current project (either a POF or SOF),
or the first programming file for a multi-device project. To
specify another programming file, choose Select Programming
File (File menu) and specify the correct file. For a FLEX 10K,
FLEX 8000, or FLEX 6000 device, select an SOF; for a MAX 9000,
MAX 7000S, MAX 7000A, or MAX 3000A device, select a POF.

4. For JTAG or FLEX-chain programming or configuration, perform the

following steps:

v To program or configure devices in a JTAG chain (multi- or

single-device chain), turn on Multi-Device JTAG-Chain (JTAG
menu) and choose Multi-Device JTAG Chain Setup to set up
the multi-device JTAG chain. See “Setting up Multi-Device
JTAG Chains” in MAX+PLUS II Help for more information. 13

Development
1 If the JTAG chain includes either FLEX or MAX devices
exclusively, set up and create just one JTAG Chain File (.jcf).

Tools
Likewise, if the JTAG chain includes a mixture of FLEX and
MAX devices, set up and create two separate JCFs. One JCF
will configure the FLEX devices, and the other JCF will
program the MAX devices.

v To configure multiple devices in a FLEX chain, turn on Multi-

Device FLEX Chain (FLEX menu) and choose Multi-Device
FLEX Chain Setup to set up the multi-device FLEX chain. See
“Setting Up Multi-Device FLEX Chains” in MAX+PLUS II Help
for more information.

5. Choose the Program or Configure button to program or configure

the device(s).

The ByteBlasterMV cable downloads the data from the SOF or POF File(s)
into the device(s).

Conclusion Downloading configuration and programming data directly to the device

via the ByteBlasterMV cable allows designers to verify multiple design
iterations in quick succession, thereby speeding the design cycle.

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ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data Sheet

References For more information on configuration and in-system programmability

(ISP), see the following sources:

■ Application Note 116 (Configuring APEX 20K, FLEX 10K & FLEX 6000
Devices)
■ Application Note 33 (Configuring FLEX 8000 Devices)
■ Application Note 38 (Configuring Multiple FLEX 8000 Devices)
■ Application Note 39 (IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) Boundary-Scan Testing in
Altera Devices)
■ Application Note 95 (In-System Programmability in MAX Devices)
■ Search for “Configuring a Single Device with the BitBlaster,
ByteBlaster, or FLEX Download Cable,” “Setting Up Multi-Device
JTAG Chains,” ”Configuring Multiple Devices in a JTAG Chain with
the BitBlaster or ByteBlaster,” and “Programming Multiple Devices
in a JTAG Chain with the BitBlaster or ByteBlaster” in MAX+PLUS II
Help.

Revision The information contained in the ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download

Cable Data Sheet version 1.01 supersedes information published in
History previous versions. The ByteBlasterMV Parallel Port Download Cable Data
Sheet version 1.01 contains the following changes:

■ Information on APEX 20K and MAX 3000A devices were added

throughout the document.
■ JTAG configuration information for APEX 20K and FLEX 10KE
devices was updated in the “ByteBlasterMV Connections” section on
page 2.
■ JTAG ISP configuration information for MAX 7000A and MAX 3000A
devices was added to the “ByteBlasterMV Connections” section on
page 2.
■ The “Passive Serial Mode” section was removed. This information is
found in Application Note 116 (Configuring APEX 20K, FLEX 10K &
FLEX 6000 Devices).
■ The “JTAG Mode” section was removed. This information is found in
Application Note 39 (IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) Boundary-Scan Testing in
Altera Devices) and Application Note 95 (In-System Programmability in
MAX Devices).
■ The Quartus software was added to the “Software Instructions”
section.
■ The “References” section was added, and provides sources for
additional information on the ByteBlasterMV download cable.
■ Minor textual, illustration, and style changes were made to the data
sheet.

8 Altera Corporation
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