JTAG Signal Routing - JTAG Signal Routing - UG860

Spartan UltraScale+ FPGAs Configuration User Guide (UG860)

Document_ID
UG860
Release_Date
2026-07-27
Revision
v1.3 English

The TCK and TMS signals go to all devices in the chain. Consequently, their signal quality is important. For example, TCK should transition monotonically at all receivers to ensure proper JTAG functionality and must be properly terminated. The quality of TCK can limit the maximum frequency for reliable JTAG configuration.

Additionally, if the chain is large (three devices or more), TMS and TCK should be buffered to ensure that they have sufficient drive strength at all receivers, and the voltage at logic High must be compatible with all devices in the chain.

When interfacing to devices from other manufacturers, optional JTAG signals can be present (such as TRST and enables) and might need to be driven.