EP3SL150F780I3N Altera, EP3SL150F780I3N Datasheet - Page 423

• Manufacturer Part Number: EP3SL150F780I3N
• Description: Stratix III
• Manufacturer: Altera

Introduction
Altera Corporation
October 2007
SIII51012-1.2
This chapter describes the functionality and implementation of the
dedicated remote system upgrade circuitry. It also defines several
concepts related to remote system upgrade, including factory
configuration, application configuration, remote update mode, and user
watchdog timer. Additionally, this chapter provides design guidelines
for implementing remote system upgrades with the supported
configuration schemes.
System designers sometimes face challenges such as shortened design
cycles, evolving standards, and system deployments in remote locations.
Stratix
re-programmability and dedicated circuitry to perform remote system
upgrades. Remote system upgrades help deliver feature enhancements
and bug fixes without costly recalls, reduce time-to-market, and extend
product life.
Stratix III devices feature dedicated remote system upgrade circuitry. Soft
logic (either the Nios
in a Stratix III device can download a new configuration image from a
remote location, store it in configuration memory, and direct the
dedicated remote system upgrade circuitry to initiate a reconfiguration
cycle. The dedicated circuitry performs error detection during and after
the configuration process, recovers from any error condition by reverting
back to a safe configuration image, and provides error status information.
This dedicated remote system upgrade circuitry is unique to the Stratix
series and helps to avoid system downtime.
Remote system upgrade is supported in fast active serial (AS) Stratix III
configuration schemes. You can also implement remote system upgrade
in conjunction with advanced Stratix III features such as real-time
decompression of configuration data and design security using the
advanced encryption standard (AES) for secure and efficient field
upgrades. The largest serial configuration device currently supports
64 MBits of configuration bitstream.
®
III devices help overcome these challenges with their inherent
®
II embedded processor or user logic) implemented
Upgrades With Stratix III
12. Remote System
Devices
12–1