Help needed with Quicklogic QL8X12B-1PL68M tools and programmer
Claytong_nz
I'm hoping someone can help me!
I'm part of a group doing an amateur radio satellite project
(KiwiSAT). We have a bug in some logic in the above Quicklogic device.
Due to ITAR the guys that initially developed this logic cannot help
with the bug fix or programming a device. We don't have access to the
tools (Quickworks I think) or the programmer. Can anyone outside the
US help us with the SW tools and the use of a programmer for this (now
obsolete) device!
We may have found a supply of the part, but if anyone can help here
also it would be great!
Regards
Clayton
Jonathan Bromley
I have a programmer I could lend/sell, and a few 12x16 84-pin parts
(no 68-pin or 8x12 AFAIK, but you could easily make up an adapter).
I may also be able to dredge up an archived copy of the tools,
but they ran under Win3.1 so you may need a museum-piece PC
to use them.
And of course there's the small difficulty of 12,000 miles
between you and me :-)
It might be better for you to get some small modern CPLD
and emulate, rather than replace, the old QL8x12. They were
cute little parts but there's not much logic in 'em (only
96 FFs and associated AND/MUX logic, right?) so even a
modest CPLD should do the job. And you may still be able
to find CPLDs with 5V I/O, which is likely to be your most
troublesome stumbling block.
--
Jonathan Bromley
austin
CPLDs will fry themselves in space (latchup and die).
This is well known in the aerospace community: do not put a CPLD in
space!
de AB6VU
(Austin)
Jonathan Bromley
wrote:
>Jonathon,
>
>CPLDs will fry themselves in space (latchup and die).
>
>This is well known in the aerospace community: do not put a CPLD in
>space!
OK, didn't realize he was planning to fly the thing :-)
--
Jonathan
Claytong_nz
wrote:
Thanks Jonathan,
These FPGAs are apparently okay in low earth orbit. My understanding
is that they are already up there and working fine - at least the
older technologies such as this part (the rule for this project seems
to be that unless it is obsolete we won't use it). Retrofitting a new
device would not be the way to go!
Our design is based on an existing (and in orbit) design, but we are
now hand-tied by ITAR - hence the US guys are not permitted to help
us.
The PCB is all done but we've found this bug in the CPLD, so selecting
a different one is not an option.
The part is the 68pin PLCC. I'll follow up other leads, but if you are
still willing and able I'd like to take you up on your programmer
offer (or possibly purchasing it). Possibly I'll see if I can get
someone from the amateur radio statelite community that is closer to
you to assist. BTW, where are you?
Regards
Clayton
Jonathan Bromley
>These FPGAs are apparently okay in low earth orbit. My understanding
>is that they are already up there and working fine - at least the
>older technologies such as this part
yeah, I guess they are fairly bulletproof (antifuse, 0.18um, ...)
>now hand-tied by ITAR - hence the US guys are not permitted to help
sheesh!
>I'd like to take you up on your programmer offer
I'd be happy to see it go to a good home; I don't see myself ever
using it again. You get three or four 12x16B 84PLCC thrown in :-)
And I'll try to find my archived copy of the software, but
no promises on that; I haven't used it for years.
> (or possibly purchasing it)
Nah, you can have it - but we need to find a shipment method
that doesn't cost me anything, and doesn't cost you very much.
>BTW, where are you?
Oxford, England - but working in Munich, Germany for much of
the next few weeks.
--
Jonathan Bromley, Verification Engineer
Verilab www.THAT_COMPANY.com
Claytong_nz
wrote:
Thank you. Your offer is very much appreciated Jonathan. I'll see if
we can find someone local to you to collect or some other arrangement.
Clayton
Claytong_nz
Fred Kennedy, who is the leader of this project, has managed to
arrange for someone to pick up the programmer from you, at a time to
suit you. I think Fred has already contacted you. If not, his details
are Fred Kennedy email fr...@kcbbs.gen.nz
Again thank you for your assistance here.
Regards
Clayton
Jonathan Bromley
>Fred Kennedy, who is the leader of this project, has managed to
>arrange for someone to pick up the programmer from you
Cool. I'll ping him today.
> Fred Kennedy email fredk@<snip>
I hope he has a good spamtrap :-)
>Again thank you for your assistance here.
As I said, it's a pleasure to see it going to good use.