JTAG Boundary Scan Test Systems (IEEE 1149.1)

Using XJTAG With Differential Signals

Introduction

Differential signalling such as LVDS is now supported by many FPGA vendors and can cause some problems when these signals are used in JTAG tests. This article attempts to describe some of the pitfalls and remedies associated with using differential signalling paths with JTAG.

FPGAs driving differential signals

Many differential signalling outputs of FPGAs are not available until the device is fully configured and the outputs have become enabled. However, JTAG activity will take place when the device is unconfigured and the outputs will usually default to a conventional CMOS driver using a common output voltage. Care should be taken that differential receivers attached to these output pins can safely handle the default output voltage generated by the FPGA. If the receiver cannot handle these voltages, the FPGA should be prevented from driving the differential nets, by using the CONSTANT PINS section of the project file preamble. In the example shown below, the FPGA (U5) is prevented from driving the differential signalling pair connected to pins AA19 and AB20.

CONSTANT PINS
  U5 INPUT AA19, AB20;
END;

FPGAs receiving differential signals

An FPGA differential signal receiver will not usually be able to detect the small signalling levels driven by a differential transmitter when in its unconfigured state (such as when JTAG is active). Thus JTAG tests which require input on these pins will not usually be possible.

Other JTAG-enabled differential transmitters

Many JTAG-enabled devices with dedicated differential transmitter pin pairs have only one JTAG control cell attached to each pair of transmitter signal pins, so driving one of these pins high will usually result in the paired signal being driven low and vice-versa. This should be borne in mind when designing tests using such pins. As there is only a single control cell for a pair of pins, there will therefore be no BSDL description for one of the pins of each pair, and any attempt to drive this pin will cause a run-time error.

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