Introduction to Indirect Programming – SPI or BPI Flash Memory

Note The following describes indirect programming through a Xilinx FPGA. For a description of indirect programming through a Zynq™-7000 AP SoC, see Zynq™-7000 AP SoC Operations In iMPACT.

iMPACT can program certain BPI or SPI Flash devices indirectly, by preloading into the FPGA a design that understands the boundary-scan (JTAG) protocol and converts the applied data to BPI or SPI bus relationships. This FPGA design serves as a bridge between the iMPACT programming tool and the Flash device connected to the FPGA. The design is downloaded into the FPGA by iMPACT (using a Xilinx® cable) to make the indirect programming of the SPI or BPI Flash device possible.

For a detailed description of indirect programming, see these Xilinx Application Notes:

• Indirect Programming of SPI Serial Flash PROMs with Spartan®-3A FPGAs (XAPP974)
• Indirect Programming of BPI PROMs with Virtex®-5 FPGAs (XAPP973)

For SPI and BPI configuration information, see the FPGA Configuration User Guide pertaining to the FPGA that will be used for indirect programming. These User Guides are available from the Documentation Web page on the Xilinx website.

The indirect programming solution in iMPACT is used during prototype design stages and is supported by the Xilinx FPGAs that have a direct SPI or BPI flash configuration mode. Refer to the table below for the supported Xilinx FPGAs and Flash memory devices.

Requirements for the indirect programming solution are:

• The iMPACT software.
• A supported Xilinx FPGA with a supported Flash device attached. This will be:
  • An FPGA attached to an SPI Flash memory through an SPI direct configuration interface
    OR
  • An FPGA attached to a BPI Flash memory through a BPI direct configuration interface.
• A Xilinx cable and connector.

iMPACT supports select SPI and BPI Flash memories. The Flash devices supported by iMPACT's indirect programming are listed in the tables below.

iMPACT SPI Flash Programming Support

7 Series FPGA Family Support

Flash Vendor	Flash Family	Supported Flash Density	SPI Indirect Programming Support
Micron (Numonyx)	N25Q 3.3V (1)	32Mb – 256Mb	Kintex™-7, Artix™-7
	N25Q 1.8V (1)	32Mb – 256Mb	Kintex-7,Virtex-7, Artix-7
Winbond	W25Q (Rev BV)	32Mb – 128Mb	Kintex-7
	W25Q (Rev BW)	8Mb	Artix-7
	W25Q (Rev FV)	64Mb – 128Mb	Kintex-7
	W25Q (Rev DW)	32Mb – 64Mb	Kintex-7, Virtex®-7. Artix-7
Spansion	S25FLxxP (2)	32Mb – 256Mb	Kintex-7
	S25FLxxS (3)	128Mb, 512Mb	Kintex-7
	S25FLxxS (3)	256Mb, 512Mb	Virtex-7
	S25FLxxS (3)	128Mb, 256Mb	Artix-7

1. For Numonyx N25Q: Top, Bottom, and Uniform block sectors are supported.
2. S25FL129P and S25FL256S are supported. 64Kb sector size only. S25FL128P is not supported.
3. 64kB sector size only.

Virtex and Spartan FPGA Family Support

Flash Vendor	Flash Family	Supported Flash Density	SPI Indirect Programming Support
Micron (Numonyx)	M25P	512kB – 128Mb	Spartan®-3E, Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6, Virtex-5, Virtex-6
	M25PE	1Mb – 16Mb	Spartan-3E, Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6, Virtex-5
	M45PE	1Mb – 16Mb	Spartan-3E, Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6
	N25Q 3.3V (1)	32Mb – 128Mb	Spartan-3E, Spartan-6,
	N25Q 1.8V (1)	32Mb – 128Mb	Virtex-6
Atmel	AT45DB (Rev B, C, and D)	1Mb – 64Mb	Spartan-3E, Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6, Virtex-5, Virtex-6
Winbond	W25Q (Rev V/CV)	4Mb – 64Mb	Spartan-6
	W25Q (Rev BV)	4Mb – 128Mb	Spartan-6
	W25Q 1.8V (Rev BW)	4Mb	Virtex-6
	W25Q 1.8V (Rev BW)	8Mb	Spartan-6
	W25Q 1.8V (Rev DW)	64Mb	Virtex-6
Spansion	S25FLxxP (2)	32Mb – 128Mb	Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6, Virtex-5, Virtex-6

1. For Numonyx N25Q: Top, Bottom, and Uniform block sectors are supported.
2. S25FL032P, S25FL064P, and S25FL129P are supported. 64kB sector size only. S25FL128P is not supported.

iMPACT BPI Flash Programming Support

7 Series FPGA Family Support

Flash Vendor	Flash Family	Supported Flash Density	Data Bus Width	BPI Indirect Programming Support (1)
Micron (Numonyx)	P33 (Axcell™)	64Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7
	P30 (Strataflash™, Axcell™)	64Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7, Virtex-7, Artix-7
	M29EW	64Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7, Virtex-7 , Artix-7
			D[7:0] (x8)
	G18F (2)	128Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7, Virtex-7, Artix-7
Spansion	S29GLxxP	128Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7, Virtex-7
			D[7:0] (x8)
	S29GLxxS	128Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Kintex-7, Virtex-7, Artix-7

1. Indirect BPI programming supports using the 7 series (Virtex-7 and Kintex-7) RS[1:0] pins when they are tied to the upper two BPI Flash address pins..
2. For Micron G18: Non-Mux interface family members are supported.

Virtex and Spartan FPGA Family Support

Flash Vendor	Flash Family	Supported Flash Density	Data Bus Width	BPI Indirect Programming Support (1) (2)
Xilinx®	XCF128X	128Mb	D[15:0] (x16)	Virtex-5, Virtex-6
Micron (Numonyx) (3)	P30 (Strataflash™, Axcell™)	64Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Spartan-6, Virtex-5, Virtex-6
	P33 Axcell	64Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Spartan-6
	J3 (Rev D, F)	32Mb – 256Mb	D[15:0] (x16)	Spartan-6, Virtex-5
			D[7:0] (x8)	Spartan-3A, Spartan-3A DSP, Spartan-6, Virtex-5
Spansion	S29GLxxS	128Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Spartan-6, Virtex-6
	S29GLxxP	128Mb – 1Gb	D[15:0] (x16)	Spartan-6, Virtex-5, Virtex-6
			D[7:0] (x8)

1. Maximum indirect BPI Flash programming TCK frequency is 3 MHz.
2. Indirect BPI programming supports using the Virtex-6 and Virtex-5 FPGA RS[1:0] pins when they are tied to the upper two BPI Flash address pins.
3. For Micron (Numonyx) monolithic P30: Top and Bottom parameter boot type are supported, and symmetrical boot type are not supported. P30 48F4400P0 Flash are also supported.