How do I program MAX 7000 "classic" series devices?

[Neil S]

I've aquired a batch of old Altera MAX 7000 CPLDs I'd like to
reprogram. Trouble is they're not the 'in circuit programmable' types
- they don't have a JTAG port.

I've got access to a EPROM programmer which claims to support them,
but no adapter for the PLCC plackage they're in. The adapter is still
available but an order of magnitude more expensive than the tube of
CPLDs themselves! So if anyone has any info at all regarding which
pins are used in the programming process, or perhaps a wiring diagram
or rough sketch of someone else's PROM programmer adapter, I'd really
appreciate their help.

Thanks in advance, Neil S.

 

[Rene Tschaggelar]

I've aquired a batch of old Altera MAX 7000 CPLDs I'd like to
reprogram. Trouble is they're not the 'in circuit programmable' types
- they don't have a JTAG port.

I've got access to a EPROM programmer which claims to support them,
but no adapter for the PLCC plackage they're in. The adapter is still
available but an order of magnitude more expensive than the tube of
CPLDs themselves! So if anyone has any info at all regarding which
pins are used in the programming process, or perhaps a wiring diagram
or rough sketch of someone else's PROM programmer adapter, I'd really
appreciate their help.

The Max7000 datasheet should have a specification on how they are
programmed. I got burnt on these too.
Otherwise have a loot at the altera application notes.
and finally, there is also a newsgroup comp.arch.fpga

Rene

 

[CBarn24050]

Hi,you need special hardware, which as you know is allmost impossible to get
these days. Try to sell them on ebay! if your lucky someone will mistake them
for the newer types.

 

[chris welsh]

Productive Learning Dimensions used to make an eval board for the max7000s
7160 CPLD's for school use... ( i have 2 of them)...all the I/O pins and a
JTAG port for programming, and it sat on a protoboard.

I might be able to part with one...contact me off list ....

I cannot seem to find their website though.

 

[Neil S]

Hi,you need special hardware, which as you know is allmost impossible to get

these days. Try to sell them on ebay! if your lucky someone will mistake them
for the newer types.

Thanks guys, I've already put the first batch of 10 on there a few
days ago, though no takers so far and a whole bunch of other auctions
running for other 7000 series too. Aargh!

I guess there must be plenty of people getting stung like this still.
I wonder if it might be a nice idea to collect the data on programming
these together and post it up somewhere for the benefit of everyone
else.

I've checked out the Altera website, though they seem to have removed
any info regarding programming them other than to say 'buy ours or a
third party's machine'. Apparently there used to be some info in the
datasheet, but it looks as though they removed it a few versions ago.
I've found two versions other than the current one through trawling
the web, but both seem to be too recent.

Thanks, Neil S

 

[[email protected]]

well you could by the evaluation board. Oh remeber that if you don't
no the history of the chip they might be worthless they can only be
programmed and erased up to 100 times.

 

[CBarn24050]

Hi, you shouldn't get stung like this, it's just a case of reading the
datasheets first. No doubt you got them for a "bargain" price. They are good
for honing up your rework skills.

 

[Neil S]

Productive Learning Dimensions used to make an eval board for the max7000s
7160 CPLD's for school use... ( i have 2 of them)...all the I/O pins and a
JTAG port for programming, and it sat on a protoboard.

I might be able to part with one...contact me off list ....

I cannot seem to find their website though.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the offer, but these chips don't have a JTAG port. I have
to program these the old fashioned way with higher voltages and lots
of bits at the same time (as far as I know!).

It's all a bit academic now anyway as I've since managed to procure
myself some Xilinx 9500 series _with_ jtag. I'm still a bit annoyed: I
don't like the idea of these going to waste, so I would still be
interested in the programming info if anyone happens to find an
ancient copy of the datasheet.

Thanks, Neil.