Company Policy


Lattice has received your letter requesting us to release the programming
specifications to the manufacturer of the programmer that you own.

From a customer's point a view, not being able to program a PLD device can be
a very upsetting and disturbing situation.  Especially if you were able to
program older versions of the same device with your existing programmer.
Please let us explain our reasons for changing our policy.  Our current
policy is that the programming specifications are only released to
programming vendors that we approve.

First, Lattice's programming algorithms are very complex and difficult to
implement.  This is because programming PLD devices is much more complicated
than memory devices, such as EPROM's.  The algorithm includes complex lookup
tables that specify programming values, several embedded software routines
for enhanced silicon.  Below is one of many reasons we believe this is the
best solution for both Lattice and our customers.

Take the following example, suppose you programmed approximately 5,000 units
using a non-approved programmer, where the algorithm was not implemented
correctly and the cells were not programmed with the required margin.
Suppose the margin on the cells was sufficient for the devices to remained
programmed for approximately 1 month and then programmed cells flipped to
erase cells, rendering the devices defective.  This would require a board
to be re-worked and possible boards to be returned from the field and re-worked.
This would be a tremendous cost to you.  Also, Lattice guarantees our device
will stay programmed for 20 years, so Lattice would have to replace the
devices.  Your customer now perceive a quality problem with your product, as
you perceive a quality problem with Lattice devices.  This could all occur
because a programming vendor implemented an algorithm incorrectly.  While
Lattice has never experienced this exact problem, we have experienced many
similar customer problems that has resulted in replacing the many devices.
After experiencing these types of problems, Lattice management decided to
review the situation.

There are some 65 programming vendors around the world.  With the available
resources, Lattice is barely able to approve the seven existing programming
vendors.  With the release of new devices, the workload continues to
increase.  It is unknown how many engineers it would take to approve every
vendor in the world, but there is a point of diminishing return.  Lattice
believes that by approving a vendor in each country, we offer our customers
the best support possible.

I hope that you have a better understanding for Lattice's existing policy,
and our reasons for implementing it.

Lattice does offer two in-system programmable(ISP) GAL devices, the 
ispGAL22V10 and ispGAL22LV10, as well as a wide range of high-density ISP 
devices.  Lattice supplies the programming software free of charge.  
Programming is performed by downloading directly to the device through the 
parallel port of a PC.  For a detailed explanation of ISP devices visit the 
Lattice web page at http://www.latticesemi.com.

Thank you very much for your interest in Lattice products.





Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
Prgm Policy 1.1