USB Blaster ALTERA Programmers & Debuggers

The USB Blaster Download Cable interfaces a USB port on a host computer to an Altera® FPGA mounted on a printed circuit board. The cable sends configuration data from the PC to a standard 10-pin header connected to the FPGA. You can use the USB Blaster cable to iteratively download configuration data to a system during prototyping or to program data into the system during production.

It surpports the ALTERA total series FPGA/CPLD devices, Active Serial Configuration Devices, Enhanced Configuration Devices, and supports AS, PS, JTAG three download modes.

Key Features

• Performance
  • Supports ALTERA total series FPGA/CPLD devices.
  • Supports ALTERA total series Active Serial Configuration Devices.
  • Supports ALTERA total series Enhanced Configuration Devices.
  • Supports AS, PS, JTAG three download modes.
  • High-speed, stable, and internal FT245R+CPLD designed.
  • Supports 1.2-5V programming voltage.
  • Supports SignalTap II embedded logic analyzer.
  • Supports Nios II of embedded processor communication and debugging.
• Supported Softwares
  • Quartus II integrated development environment.
  • NIOS II IDE integrated development environment.
  • NIOS II EDS integrated development environment.
• Supported Devices
  • CPLD: MAX3000, MAX7000A/B/S, MAX9000 and MAX II etc.
  • FPGA: Stratix, Stratix II, Cyclone, Cyclone II, CycloneIII, ACEX 1K, APEX 20K and FLEX 10K etc.
  • Active Serial Configuration Devices including: EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16 etc.
  • Enhanced Configuration Devices including: EPC1, EPC4 etc.
• Other Features
  • High download speed: FT245+CPLD+244, close to the original ALTERA USB Blaster.
  • Download speed 1-3 times faster than other schemes, such as 68013 or C8051F.
• Connects to PC
  • Computer connection via USB 2.0 interface.
• Connects to target board

Target board connection via JTAG, AS, PS interfaces. The figure 1, 2,and 3 below shows the header pinouts of different interfaces.

LED Status

• Red LED: Power indicator
• Green LED: Signal indicator, the LED is on while downloading/programming

Downloads

Development resources:user manual, software, etc.
Wiki: www.waveshare.com/wiki/USB_Blaster

Package Content

• USB Blaster × 1
• USB Cable × 1
• 10-pin cable × 1

FAQs:

Q: What is the USB Blaster used for?

A: The USB Blaster is a programmer and debugger for Altera FPGA devices. It enables users to configure, program, and debug FPGA designs via the Quartus II software.

Q: What devices are compatible with the USB Blaster?

A: The USB Blaster is compatible with Altera FPGA devices and CPLDs. It supports a range of devices including Cyclone, Stratix, and MAX series FPGAs.

Q: What interface does the USB Blaster use for connection?

A: The USB Blaster uses a USB 1.1 or 2.0 interface for data transfer. This interface ensures fast and reliable communication between your computer and FPGA device.

Q: Is the USB Blaster compatible with Quartus II software?

A: Yes, the USB Blaster is fully compatible with Quartus II software, which is used for FPGA design, configuration, and debugging.

Q: What operating systems are supported by the USB Blaster?

A: The USB Blaster supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it versatile for different development environments.

Q: What is included in the USB Blaster package?

A: The USB Blaster package includes the USB Blaster programmer/debugger, a USB cable, and basic documentation for setup and use.

Q: Can the USB Blaster be used for real-time debugging of FPGA designs?

A: Yes, the USB Blaster supports real-time debugging features for FPGA designs, allowing developers to interact with and troubleshoot their designs during development.

Q: What is the power source for the USB Blaster?

A: The USB Blaster is powered through the USB connection to the host computer. No additional power source is required.

Q: What is the difference between the USB Blaster and the USB Blaster II?

A: The USB Blaster II is an updated version of the USB Blaster with improved performance and support for more recent FPGA devices. The original USB Blaster supports older FPGA models and offers basic functionality.

Q: What is the typical response time for the USB Blaster when programming devices?

A: The USB Blaster offers quick response times for programming devices, with most operations completing in a matter of seconds depending on the size of the configuration file.

Q: Can the USB Blaster be used for JTAG debugging?

A: Yes, the USB Blaster supports JTAG debugging, allowing for in-depth analysis and troubleshooting of FPGA designs through the Quartus II software.