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• Devices with JTAG interface, for which an SVF or an
XSVF file can be created. These include CPLD (such as
Xilinx XC95xx and CoolRunner), configuration memory
for FPGA (such as Xilinx XC18Vxx and XCFxxS),
microcontrollers (such as ATmega128) and others.
This, however, is not an exhausting list of possibilities.
Additional types are regularly supplemented in response
to customers’ interest. New software versions are
downloadable from the Internet for free.
High Speed
Compared to the PRESTO programmer, FORTE features an
embedded processor making it possible to perform
complex operations with the device being programmed as
well as offering a significantly faster output interface. Due
to this, devices may be programmed up to the limits of
their theoretical performance.
USB Connection
FORTE is controlled and powered through a USB port. It
communicates in the High-Speed mode (480Mbps) /
connected to a USB 2.0 port and in the Full-Speed mode /
connected to a USB 1.1 port. This means that connecting
the programmer is fast and easy, requiring only a single
cable.
Programming of Placed Devices
ISP (In-System Programming) or the special ICSP (In-
Circuit Serial Programming) for the PIC microcontrollers is
currently replacing the traditional method in which
devices were first programmed and only then placed on a
PCB (printed circuit board). Thanks to ISP even SMD
devices with an extremely narrowly spaced pins can
easily be programmed and their firmware upgraded in
already assembled and finished devices.
Programming of Autonomous Devices
Those who still need to program autonomous devices, i.e.
devices not yet placed on a PCB can use the ISP2ZIF
adapter featuring a ZIF (zero insertion force) socket.
Programming Interface
The FORTE programmer features 8 independent I/O pins
with individually configurable pull-up/down resistors.
Devices to be programmed are connected through a
16-pin ISP connector, which is backward compatible with
the 8-pin ICSP connector for PIC microcontrollers. VPP can
be set to any value between 6.5 V and 17 V.
Connection to a remote application through a 16-wire
ribbon cable has been improved by interleaving its
individual signals with ground.
Power Supply From Application
The VDD output can serve as an input using the power
from the application for feeding the output buffers, or it
can become an output and as such to provide voltage for
the application.
FORTE can power applications with a voltage from 1.8V
to 5.5V. A controlled discharge resistor is incorporated
for faster transitions between different programming
phases when capacitors in the application need to be
discharged all the way down to 0V.
FORTE includes a built-in “voltmeter” at pins P and VDD.
Overcurrent Protection
FORTE includes a fast-responding hardware overcurrent
protection at pins P and VDD, which is independent of the
state of the controlling PC.
User Interface
The programmer status is clearly indicated by two LEDs.
ON-LINE (green LED) informs of connecting to USB while
ACTIVE (two-state yellow/red LED) signals an activity or a
faulty state (error) of the programming interface.
The GO button significantly increases the operator’s
comfort in repeated programming. It starts programming
or other user-defined commands
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