EPC1LC20AL3894
EPC1LC20AL3894 - 1Mb FPGA Config PROM, 20-PLCC | Intel / Altera
The Intel / Altera EPC1LC20AL3894 is a 1-Mbit (212,942 × 1-bit) one-time-programmable (OTP) serial configuration PROM designed for SRAM-based LUT FPGAs in a 20-pin Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC, J-lead) package. The 'AL3894' suffix denotes a specific Altera tape-and-reel / shipping variant of the standard EPC1LC20 die, sharing identical electrical specifications and pinout with the base part. The device operates from a single 3.3 V supply, supports a serial configuration clock up to 8 MHz, and provides industry-standard serial configuration protocol compatibility with Altera FPGAs including the Cyclone, APEX, ACEX, FLEX 10K, MAX 7000S/AE/B, and older FLEX series.
What is a Configuration PROM? A configuration PROM is a non-volatile memory device that stores the FPGA's bitstream (the binary configuration file that defines the FPGA's logic, routing, and I/O behavior) and serially loads it into the FPGA at power-up or upon reconfiguration. Because SRAM-based LUT (Look-Up Table) FPGAs lose their configuration when power is removed, they require an external boot memory source. The hierarchy is: configuration PROM → boot memory → FPGA bitstream storage → SRAM-based LUT FPGA → programmable logic. The EPC1 family belongs to the oldest tier of Altera (now Intel PSG) configuration solutions, predating modern flash-based or processor-embedded configuration schemes.
Key features include 1-Mbit storage organized as 212,942 × 1, an industry-standard 4-pin serial interface (DATA, DCLK, nCS, nINIT_CONF), simple hand-shaking protocol, 3.3 V single-supply operation, and a 20-pin PLCC package with J-leads for through-hole or socket mounting. The 'LC' suffix indicates a 3.3 V variant as opposed to the original 5 V EPC1 (PC suffix). The device is factory-programmed one-time only via Altera's programming service, then field-deployed as a read-only configuration source.
Architecturally, the EPC1LC20 uses an EPROM (UV-erasable, OTP-programmed) cell array with built-in address counter and serial data shift register. During FPGA configuration, the FPGA generates DCLK and the EPC1 shifts out data on each rising edge; the FPGA also drives nCS and acknowledges via nSTATUS / CONF_DONE. This synchronous serial protocol eliminates the need for an external microcontroller, enabling simple 'configure-on-power-up' operation in standalone FPGA systems.
Typical applications include boot configuration for legacy Altera Cyclone, APEX, ACEX, FLEX 10K and MAX 7000S/AE/B FPGAs, industrial control systems using FPGA coprocessors, telecommunications line cards, and prototype / low-volume production systems where configuration bitstreams must persist through power cycles. Design consideration: when migrating designs to modern Intel Cyclone 10, Cyclone V, or later families, designers should evaluate newer serial configuration devices (EPCS16, EPCQ16, EPCQ64, EPCQL256) because the EPC1 protocol is no longer supported on newer device families.
견적 요청
문의하기