Question from the Customer:
I need to program 1.8V SPI devices with one of your Flash Socket Boards.
I reviewed the user manual for the Level Shifter Board, but it is not clear how to set the target voltage of the Cheetah SPI Host Adapter so that it is 5V when used with the level shifter and 3.3V when it is used with the Flash Socket Board directly. How can I best set up the 5V required for the level shifter, while ensuring that the SPI interface is still 3.3V compatible?
Also, using the Flash Center Software, I can see that the Promira Serial Platform allows the target voltage to be defined. Is there an advantage to using the Promira platform?
Response from Technical Support:Thanks for your questions! For your application, we recommend using the Promira platform and the Flash SOIC-8 Socket Board - 10/34. As both the Promira platform and the Flash SOIC-8 Socket Board - 10/34 support 1.8V and 3.3V. You can connect the Promira platform directly to the Flash socket board - you will not need the level shifter board with this configuration.
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About the socket board:
- The Flash SOIC-8 Socket Board - 10/34 is the latest version that supports multiple SPI signals logical levels (including 1.8V and 3.3V).
- It also supports connecting directly to the Promira platform that also supports 1.8V and 3.3V via software (without a level shifter.)
The Cheetah adapter operates at high speeds up to 40+ MHz with SPI signals at 3.3V. To use the Cheetah adapter with SPI flash at lower voltage levels, you can use the level shifter board to provide the required voltages.
The Promira platform is an advanced device with built-in level shifting that can function as either an SPI master or slave, as well as many other features, depending on which Promira Application you have licensed.
Here’s a table so you can easily compare the Promira platform (and Applications) and the Cheetah adapter.
Note: for Active - Level 2 and 3 Applications, the previous levels must first be licensed and installed on the Promira platform.
We hope this answers your questions. Additional resources that you may find helpful include the following:
- Promira Serial Platform I2C/SPI Active User Manual
- Flash Center Software User Manual
- Cheetah SPI Host Adapter User Manual
- Cheetah GUI Software User Manual
- 8-Bit Flash SOIC Socket User Manual
- Level Shifter Board User Manual
More questions? More projects? You can contact us and request a demo that applies to your application, as well as ask questions about the Promira Serial Platform and other Total Phase products.