Adaptec AVA-1505A User's Guide download pdf (Page 6)

6 FAQ’s for Actel’s Antifuse FPGA Programming

General

1. What programmers can I use to program Actel devices?

Ans. Actel only tests the programming of Actel devices on Silicon Sculptor II and Silicon Sculptor 3

programmers. Each release of Silicon Sculptor goes through a rigorous testing procedure to ensure the

best programming yield possible. This test procedure includes programming devices and functionally

testing these devices.

Note: The Activator programmer, Silicon Sculptor 1 and Silicon Sculptor 6X have been

discontinued. Actel no longer provide software updates for these programmers. The last software

version that supported Silicon Sculptor 1 and 6X was v4.68.1 WIN and v3.93 DOS.

BP Microsystems programmers that are equivalent to Silicon Sculptor II and 3 (BP1610 and BP1710) are

fully supported. Multisite BP programmers BP2610 and BP2710 and BP autoprogrammers BP4710,

BP4610, BP3710 MK2, and BP3610 also support Actel devices. However, Actel adapter modules must be

used to program Actel devices. Where an auto-programmer is used, the appropriate open-top adapter

module from BP Microsystems must be used. Auto-programmers are not to be used for programming

RadTolerant devices such as RTSX-SU and RTAX-S.

Actel does not test programming solutions from any other vendor and cannot guarantee programming

yield. Actel will accept Programming Failure RMAs up to the allowed fallout, but we reserve the right to

reject any RMA requests if the fallout is excessive. We will not perform Failure Analysis on devices

programmed by hardware from other vendors.

For details on programming failure guidelines please review "Programming and Functional Failure

Guidelines".

Programmers

Silicon Sculptor II and III

2. Where can I find a list of the supported devices for the Silicon Sculptor

programmer?

Ans. Devices currently supported by Silicon Sculptor, are listed at:

www.actel.com/download/program_debug/ss/device_list.aspx.

3. What is the Power-On Self-Test (POST) for Silicon Sculptor?

Ans. When power is applied to the Silicon Sculptor programmer, it performs a power-on self-test (POST).

This test checks RAM, ROM, CPU, analog circuits, and basic system integrity.

Note: Do not attempt any programming operation until POST is complete. If POST fails, the red ERROR

LED turns on.

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Adaptec AVA-1505A User's Guide Page 6