User`s guide

MaxLoader User’s Guide
123
and outputs that the part will experience in normal operation. To perform the
test, the engineer must supply a set of test vectors that describe normal
operation of the device so the device programmer can apply the specified
stimulus and verify that the device is operating as designed. It is important to
perform a functional test on PLDs because, in many cases, the PLD cannot
be fully tested at the factory before programming so a defective PLD may
program correctly but fail the functional test. A properly designed functional
test will verify that the part meets the design specification, ensuring that the
device, the compiler, the programmer, and the engineer have all performed
their respective tasks correctly.
Fuse A metal connection within a PLD or memory that may be melted during
programming to break the circuit. These links typically carry input signals to
logic gates. Burning all the fuses except those that are required in the desired
circuit forms the desired circuit configuration. Since the fuses cannot be
tested nondestructively, fuse-like programmable devices cannot be 100%
tested at the factory and consequently expected programming yields are
usually 98-99%.
GAL Generic Array Logic. EEPROM based second generation PAL devices.
Gang Programmer A multiple-socket programmer that requires each device to be placed in a
socket before any can be programmed. See Concurrent Programmer.
HEX file A human-readable ASCII file that represents any binary data. Each byte in
the binary pattern is represented by two HEX characters (0-9, A-F) so that
any of the 256 possible bytes, which include both control and unprintable
characters, may be printed. The HEX file may also contain address or
checksum information. The pattern represented by the HEX file may be
represented by a binary file or any of the HEX file formats – any file format
may contain any pattern. The names of the HEX file formats (Intel,
Motorola, Tektronix, etc.) indicate who standardized its format and does not
indicate anything about the pattern or the device the pattern is intended for.
I/O Input/ Output.