Using the ABX84 with Atmel ATF15xxx CPLDs

Although we bill the ABX84 as an Altera MAX development board, you can use it -- and its associated JTAG adapter -- with the readily-available Atmel ATF15xxx CPLDs. These are pin compatible with the ABX84, and the Atmel ISP software will directly operate our JTAG adapter (it looks like a ByteBlaster).

For configuration, you have two options:

1. Use Atmel's WinCUPL software
2. Convert an existing Altera design's POF file into a JED file and use Atlmel's ATMELISP software to download

All the software just mentioned is at http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools.asp?family_id=653. If you are using Altera's tools and just want to use the ATF device as a second source, you can run winpof2jed which looks like this:

The JED file produced will work with the ATMELISP software and the ABX84's JTAG adapter. The ATMELISP program has a nice tutorial, but here are the basic steps:

1. Start the program

2. Set your hardware settings (LPT1 and ByteBlaster, for example)

3. Select File | New to make a new "chain file"

4. Enter the number of devices on your JTAG chain (usually 1, in this case)

5. Under JTAG instruction select Program/Verify and pick the correct device type

6. Select the JED file you want to program and press OK

7. Press Run to execute the "chain file"; the program will ask you to save the chain file first

Once you have saved the chain file, you'll be able to load it directly and skip the first 6 steps.