Solutions

  • Tang
Update history
Date Version Author Update content
2023-05-18 v0.3 wonder
  • Add some information

Here are some normal questions.

Programmer

Make sure there are 2 converter and COM device, this means the debugger works well.

tang_bl702_device_convertor

The debugger can be used for Jtag and UART, when using its uart function, Jtag is disabled. To solve this, replug the TypeC cable of your board to disconnect the uart connection.

No COM devices

If there is no COM device but 2 converter devices, right click converter B -> Properties -> Advanced -> Load VCP , then Click OK and reconnect your USB device.

tang_bl702_device_convertor_load_vcp

No convertor device

It takes 10 seconds for debugger loading the driver. And you can install the driver manually. Click me to download driver

no_convertor_install_driver

Download frequency

Make sure the frequency is equal or lower than 2.5MHz, otherwise it may lead some troubles like burning bitstream file really slow or failed burning bitstream file.

Choose Frequency equal to or lower than 2.5MHz

Then cilck Save

Error found

This error means the Programmer application does detect debugger or your driver is wrong.
Visit this programmer compressed file, download it and extract it, replace the programmer folder install with GOWIN IDE by this extracted file.
If you don't know how to replace the programmer folder, just execute the programmer application in the extracted folder to download bitstream file instead of the programmer application installed with GOWIN IDE.

If this problem still occurs after you use our recommended programmer application, try to rerun this application. If all attempts fail, see the begin of this documents about converter.

Cable lost

Reflash bitstream to solve this. This occurs when flashing bitstream, board and computer does not well disconnected.

Cable open failed

cable_open_failed

This means the programmer application does not detect the debugger, try this programmer application mentioned in Error found.

If this problem still occurs after you use our recommended programmer application, try to rerun this application. If all attempts fail, see the begin of this documents about converter.

No Gowin devices found

no_gowin_device_found

This means the debugger does not detect the FPGA chip, you can use the latest GOWIN Programmer to solve this problem.

gowin_programmer_download

Nano 9K

Because the FPGA JTAG_SEL pin is routed to Key S2, from the GOWIN manual we can see when JTAGSEL_N=0 (Active low), Jtag is enabled.

gw1nr_9c_jtag_sel

For Nano 9K, hold S2 key to solve the trouble caused by JTAGSEL_N and JTAG pins are being used as I/O.

Primer 20K

For 20K Dock kits, it's necessary to enable the core board before using debugger debug the chip, just put the 1 switch on the dip switch down, otherwise this error occurs.

Enable Core Board Disable state Additional comments
switch_1_on reset_led_on When disabled, the LDE0 and LED1 is on, and core board doesn't work.

When using RV Debugger Plus burning firmware into 20K core board this error occurs, possibly the order of connecting wire is wrong, make sure your connecting order is same as following sheet, or you can check your core board jtag connector inside pins, make sure none of them are crooked(One time we get problem connecting Debugger with core board and finally check out that there is a crooked pin in the jtag connector, this maybe because of doing wrong connection operations when connecting)

The JTAG pin orders can be found in the back of 20K core board.

Core Board 5V0 TMS TDO TCK TDI RX TX GND
Debugger 5V0 TMS TDO TCK TDI TX RX GND

cable_connect

ID code mismatch

id_code_mismatch

This means the selected device in the project mismatch your burning chip. All that refers chip model(The project device, pin constrain, IP modules and programmer device choose) need to be reset.

Board name Series Device Package Speed
Tang Nano GW1N GW1N-1 QN48 C6/I5
Tang Nano 1K GW1NZ GW1NZ-1 QN48 C6/I5
Tang Nano 4K GW1NSR GW1NSR-4C QN48P C6/I5 or C7/I6
Tang Nano 9K GW1NR GW1NR-9C QN88P C6/I5
Tang Nano 20K GW2AR GW2AR-18C QN88 C8/I7
Tang Primer 20K GW2A GW2A-18C PBGA256 C8/I7

spi flash selected mismatch

The board using GOWIN Semiconductor LittleBee product family (Series of chip names beginning with GW1N) incorporates embedded FLASH in main chip, so when burning firmware we burn into embedded FLASH, and regard the external FLASH as a peripheral.

The board using GOWIN Semiconductor Arora product family (Series of chip names beginning with GW1N) does not incorporate embedded FLASH, so when burning firmware we burn into external FLASH, and the operations are as followed .

flash_mode Operation is
exFlash Erase,Program thru GAO-Bridge
Flash Device we choose Generic Flash

Download slowly

Don't choose Operation containing Verify

never_choose_verify

Make sure the frquency is equal or lower than 2.5MHz, normally 2.5MHz everything is ok.

Choose Frequency equal to or lower than 2.5MHz

Then click Save

Directory *** has null character.

Error character of the project path.

  • Close IDE.
  • Check project path, only English works and _ are Ok, take care of the blank character in the path.
  • Reopen the project, clean and rerun your project.

Can't find bitstream file

Normally the bitstream file with extension name .fs is in the impl/pnr folder under the project path.

From the picture above we can know the of this bitstream file path is fpga_project1/impl/pnr/fpga_project1.fs

The fpga_project1 is the project directory, the impl folder is generated by IDE, and the download is in the pnr folder.

The file with extension name .fs is the firmware we will burn into fpga.

IDE

See IP manual

In the IP Core generate interface of IDE, click your target IP, then choose your language reference to see the IP manual.

Click to see instructions

Reconfigure generated IP

In the IP Core generate interface of IDE, click the folder icon next to device selection at the top to open the generated IP configuration interface.

Click to see instructions

Set top module

For project that contains multiple-projects, if you succeed generating your module, right-click the module you want to set as the top module IDE -> Hierarchy interface.

set_top_module

If your Hierarchy interface is the same as what is in the left picture, this means there are logic errors in the code, such as syntax errors or generate errors. Click 'RTL Analysis Error' in the upper right corner then you can see the error type code and location of the error in the dialog box that pops up, as shown in the right picture in the following table.

RTL Analysis Error Error type and details
top_module_error error_detail

Using GAO

GAO is Gowin Analyzer Oscilloscope, its document can be found in the path like what is shown below

gao

Using this programmer application instead of the programmer application installed with, then you can use GAO.(GAO need run by IDE, so you need to replace the Programmer bin folder by your downloaded one)