This document is a user guide for the USB-Blaster Download Cable from Altera Corporation. It provides information on setting up the download cable and the supported devices.
The USB-Blaster™ download cable connects a PC USB port to an Altera FPGA on a circuit board, allowing configuration data to be downloaded during prototyping or production. It supports a wide range of Altera devices, including Stratix, Cyclone, MAX, Arria GX, APEX, ACEX 1K, Mercury, FLEX 10K, and Excalibur families.
The guide details hardware setup, software installation for Windows and Linux, power and voltage requirements, operating conditions, cable revisions, and RoHS compliance. It also lists supported operating systems and provides reference documents for further configuration details.
| USB power requirement | 5.0 V from the USB cable |
|---|---|
| Target supply voltage (5.0‑V operation) | Min 4.75 V, Max 5.25 V |
| Operating current (no load) | Typical 80 mA, Max 150 mA |
The cable can download configuration data to Stratix, Cyclone, MAX, Arria GX, APEX, ACEX 1K, Mercury, FLEX 10K, and Excalibur devices, as well as various EPC and EPCS serial configuration devices.
The cable needs 5.0 V from the USB port and a target‑board supply between 1.5 V and 5.0 V.
It works with Windows 2000, Windows XP (32‑bit and 64‑bit), Windows Vista (32‑bit and 64‑bit) and Linux, using Quartus II version 4.0 or later.
Revision A uses a ribbon cable, Revision B uses a flexible PCB cable, and Revision C adds a hardware upgrade to meet RoHS lead‑free requirements.