295 - Lattice Diamond: How do I generate a LatticeXP and LatticeXP2 device bit files for EPROM programming?
Unlike the SRAM based FPGA families like LatticeECPx and LatticeSC, the programming bitstream file for the Flash based LatticeXP and LatticeXP2 are JEDEC file format. When using ispVM to program the on-chip Flash through the JTAG interface, the JEDEC file is used. There is no requirement for additional procedures. To program an external EPROM, the programming file needs to be a bitstream (bit) format instead of the JEDEC format. For the LatticeXP device family, the bit format file is generated at the same time when JEDEC file is generated. Thus no extra step is required. For the LatticeXP2 device family, the bit file is not generated at the same time as when the *.JED (JEDEC format) file is generated. There is an extra step that is required to generate the bit file. In ispVM toolbox there is a tool called UFW(universal file writer) which can convert the JEDEC file into bit file. This is a necessary step to create a bit file for external EPROM programming.