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Question & Answer
Classification: FAQ_CLASSIFICATION
Date: FAQ_DATE
Using pins connected to the RAM/uC as general-purpose FPGA I/O pins
Q:
I am using a XS40 board and I am not using the 8031 microcontroller yet (I haven't worked with this microcontroller before so I'm starting to read the specifications). My designs are only using the FPGA. I would like to connect the FPGA to an external circuit, but every pin of the FPGA is connected to other resources of the board. May I use the pins of the FPGA attached to the P0 and P2 ports of the 8031 microcontroller, to connect the FPGA to external circuits? (I'm not using the 8031 microcontroller and jumper J7 is installed on pins 1 and 2).
A:
Yes. You can use any of the FPGA pins attached to the RAM or microcontroller for general-purpose I/O as long as the RAM or microcontroller is held in an inactive state. The microcontroller is held in the RESET state by placing a high level on its RST pin. The RAM is deactivated by placing a high level on its /CS input.