Programming for Spartan-3AN FPGAs

The Spartan™-3AN FPGA platform is a non-volatile, reprogrammable FPGA platform optimized for security and system integration in high volume applications. A variety of methods are available to program a design into the Spartan-3AN through the IEEE Standard 1149.1 (JTAG) port. After the device is programmed with a design, the Spartan-3AN FPGA retains the functionality of the design at each subsequent power-up.

Figure 1

The non-volatile Spartan-3AN FPGA is programmed via JTAG.

For more details regarding the programming methods, select a link below:

Prototyping or Debugging

Customers who are in the prototyping phase have the following options for programming the Spartan-3AN FPGA:

• Xilinx JTAG Programming Cable
  Xilinx provides low-cost JTAG cables that can be used to program a Spartan-3AN FPGA in the prototyping environment. Xilinx JTAG cables are fully supported by iMPACT software, which is a part of the ISE™ software.
• Third Party Cables/Solutions
  Xilinx also works with third party vendors to provide boundary-scan (JTAG) tools that can program Spartan-3AN FPGAs in-system during prototyping or production.

Production

Third-party programmers support single device and gang programming of Spartan-3AN FPGAs. Refer to the following link for third-party programmer support.

In the Field

For in the field updates to Spartan-3AN FPGAs, Xilinx offers a processor controlled programming solution:

• XAPP058: Compact JTAG-based programming method for all Xilinx ISP devices.

Miscellaneous

• Spartan-3A FPGAs
• Spartan-3E FPGAs
• Spartan-3 Generation Configuration User Guide
• Platform Flash PROM