CoolRunner 2 CPLD

Mar 16, 2006 1 Replies
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I want to know if the X2c family (coolrunner II) have a non-volatile program memory inside its package: I would like a non-volatile memory (eeprom...) that contains the "programs" also when it's extinguished (and with a number of macrocells comparable with a small/medium fpga). However I would know the name of a low-power, non-volatile program memory family (CPLD). Another question: can I use the XC9500 programmer (seen here:

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to program the X2c family (or where I can find some programers for the CPLD package)?



Thanks Duccio



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The Coolrunner series are flash- based CPLDs- they retain the program when you power down, and it's available immediately on power-up. They generally have very few macrocells compared with FPGAs (say 128 compared with 2000+ for a similarly- priced FPGA). Lattice and Actel (among others) produce FPGAs with built- in flash. I've used the Actel ProAsic series. They are commendably low- power compared with early CPLD types, though I doubt if they have the very low static current draw of the Coolrunners (I haven't looked).

The Coolrunners program through a JTAG adapter. It may or may not be the same as the XC9500 ones. I know that the earlier coolrunner adapter was a simple passive device, just connectors, ribbon cable and a few resistors. But with the CoolrunnerII series lacking 5V tolerance, it may now require a level-translating buffer inside.

Paul Burke

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