EP4SE360F35I4 Datasheet, PDF (355/432 Pages) Altera Corporation – This section provides a complete overview of all features relating to the Stratix IV device family, which is the most architecturlly advanced

Chapter 10: Configuration, Design Security, and Remote System Upgrades in Stratix IV Devices
Fast Active Serial Configuration (Serial Configuration Devices)
10–19
1 If you have enabled the Auto-restart configuration after error option, the nSTATUS pin
transitions from high to low and back again to high when a configuration error is
detected. This appears as a low pulse at the nSTATUS pin with a minimum pulse width
of 10 s to a maximum pulse width of 500 s, as defined in the t_STATUS specification.
When the Stratix IV device is in user mode, you can initiate reconfiguration by pulling
the nCONFIG pin low. The nCONFIG pin must be low for at least 2 s. When nCONFIG is
pulled low, the device also pulls nSTATUS and CONF_DONE low and all I/O pins are
tri-stated. After nCONFIG returns to a logic high level and nSTATUS is released by the
Stratix IV device, reconfiguration begins.
1 If you wish to gain control of the EPCS pins, hold the nCONFIG pin low and pull the
nCE pin high. This causes the device to reset and tri-state the AS configuration pins.
The timing parameters for AS mode are not listed here because the t_CF2CD, t_CF2ST0, t_CFG,
t_STATUS, t_CF2ST1, and t_CD2UM timing parameters are identical to the timing parameters
for PS mode listed in Table 10–7 on page 10–30.
You can configure multiple Stratix IV devices using a single serial configuration
device. You can cascade multiple Stratix IV devices using the chip-enable (nCE) and
chip-enable-out (nCEO) pins. The first device in the chain must have its nCE pin
connected to GND. You must connect its nCEO pin to the nCE pin of the next device in
the chain. When the first device captures all of its configuration data from the
bitstream, it drives the nCEO pin low, enabling the next device in the chain. You must
leave the nCEO pin of the last device unconnected. The nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE,
DCLK, and DATA0 pins of each device in the chain are connected (refer to Figure 10–7).
The first Stratix IV device in the chain is the configuration master and controls
configuration of the entire chain. You must connect its MSEL pins to select the AS
configuration scheme. The remaining Stratix IV devices are configuration slaves. You
must connect their MSEL pins to select the PS configuration scheme. Any other Altera
device that supports PS configuration can also be part of the chain as a configuration
slave.
September 2012 Altera Corporation
Stratix IV Device Handbook
Volume 1