A54SX16A-TQG144A - 24K Gate Antifuse FPGA 144-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: A54SX16A-TQG144A ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42.5 | $42.50 |
| 10 | $39.1 | $391.00 |
| 100 | $34.8 | $3,480.00 |
| 500 | $31.2 | $15,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $27.9 | $27,900.00 |
A54SX16A-TQG144A Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing a sea of configurable logic modules and interconnect that designers program to implement custom digital circuits. Within the programmable logic hierarchy, the SX-A family sits in the one-time-programmable (OTP) antifuse FPGA class, as opposed to SRAM-based FPGAs such as Xilinx Spartan or Altera Cyclone devices. Antifuse technology permanently programs each connection at power-up configuration time, giving the device inherent configuration security and no need for an external configuration PROM.
Key features include the amorphous-silicon antifuse interconnect with tungsten plug vias, a 2.25 V to 5.25 V single supply operating range, and 0.25 um / 0.22 um CMOS technology. The die uses three layers of metal with the antifuse between Metal 2 and Metal 3. This architecture delivers ASIC-like performance, very low static power, and resistance to bit-stream theft, which is why SX-A remains popular in legacy industrial and defense programs.
The sea-of-modules architecture supports 924 usable logic cells organized into 1452 LABs/CLBs, with system performance up to 227 MHz. Because configuration is non-volatile and one-time, the device is immune to configuration readback attacks and eliminates boot-time configuration delays.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, glueless bus interface and bridge logic, communication equipment control planes, and defense/aerospace legacy designs requiring configuration security.
Design consideration: since the device is OTP, thoroughly verify the design through simulation (Libero SoC or legacy Actel toolchains) before programming; there is no rework path after antifuse programming.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives across the SX-A TQFP-144 family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for A54SX16A-TQG144A — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with A54SX16A-TQG144A (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, System Gates, Family, RoHS Status, User I/O.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A54SX16A-1TQG144A
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16A-TQG144
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16A-TQG144I
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16A-TQG144M
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX32A-TQG144IX53
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$302 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX16P-TQG144
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$31 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX16A-TQG144A Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| System Gates | 24,000 gates (approximately 16,000 typical gates) |
| Logic Cells | 924 cells |
| LABs / CLBs | 1452 |
| User I/O | 113 |
| Maximum Toggle Frequency | 227 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.25 V to 5.25 V |
| Core Technology | 0.25 um / 0.22 um CMOS, amorphous-silicon antifuse |
| Programmability | One-Time Programmable (OTP), non-volatile antifuse |
| Metal Layers | 3 layers, antifuse between Metal 2 and Metal 3 |
| Package | 144-TQFP (20 x 20 mm), Surface Mount |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Family | SX-A (AXcelerator predecessor, Actel/Microsemi SX-A) |
| Lead Free Status | Lead Free |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant |
A54SX16A-TQG144A 144-tqfp (20 x 20 mm), surface mount Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for A54SX16A-TQG144A (144-tqfp (20 x 20 mm), surface mount package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for A54SX16A-TQG144A.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
A54SX16A-TQG144A is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Configuration-Secure Defense and Aerospace Logic, Glue Logic Consolidation and Bus Bridging, Communications Equipment Control Planes, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Legacy Program Sustainment and Last-Time-Buy Bridge.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The A54SX16A-TQG144A suits industrial PLC backplanes and machine controllers because its 2.25 V to 5.25 V single-supply range accepts legacy 5 V and 3.3 V rails without level shifting, and its antifuse configuration is instantly active at power-up with zero boot delay - valuable for safety interlocks and sequencer logic that must respond within milliseconds of power application. The 113 user I/Os at up to 227 MHz handle parallel bus interfaces, encoder counters, and I/O module bridging that a microcontroller cannot service at line rate. Because the non-volatile configuration cannot be corrupted by industrial power glitches, the device eliminates external configuration memory and its associated failure modes. Place the part on the same footprint as other TQG144 SX-A variants to reuse the PCB across commercial and industrial temperature builds.
Recommended
Configuration-Secure Defense and Aerospace Logic
Antifuse FPGAs remain a fixture in defense platforms precisely because the A54SX16A-TQG144A's programmed interconnect cannot be read back, giving inherent protection against bitstream theft and reverse engineering that SRAM FPGAs cannot match without encryption management. The military temperature A54SX16A-TQG144M in the same 144-TQFP footprint serves extended-environment programs, while this commercial variant covers laboratory and benign-platform builds of the same design. The 24K-gate capacity is sufficient for MIL-STD bus glue logic, protocol converters, and voting/monitoring circuits. The instant-on, single-supply 2.25 V to 5.25 V operation simplifies power architecture in legacy avionics boxes, and permanent programming removes configuration-storage components from the bill of materials, reducing radiation and reliability concerns.
Recommended
Glue Logic Consolidation and Bus Bridging
A classic SX-A use case is replacing dozens of 74-series TTL/CMOS packages with one A54SX16A-TQG144A, generating system-wide savings by integrating multiple functions into a low-cost single-chip solution as Microchip describes. The 924 logic cells and 1452 LABs absorb address decoders, bus transceivers, state machines, and wait-state generators, while the wide 2.25 V to 5.25 V supply range allows direct interfacing to both legacy 5 V microprocessor buses and 3.3 V peripherals. The 227 MHz toggle capability far exceeds combinatorial TTL timing, so critical-path delay improves alongside board area reduction. Consolidation also cuts assembly cost and inventory count; one antifuse device with permanent configuration behaves like a fixed-logic ASIC ordered in single-unit quantities, without NRE charges or mask-set commitments.
Recommended
Communications Equipment Control Planes
In telecom and datacom line cards, the A54SX16A-TQG144A implements backplane arbitration, slot identification, LED drivers, and interrupt aggregation between the control processor and high-speed data path devices. Its instant-on antifuse configuration means the control plane is alive before software boots, enabling board-level housekeeping such as power-good monitoring and reset distribution from the first millisecond. The 113 I/Os accommodate parallel management buses across a 2.25 V to 5.25 V mixed-voltage environment common in systems transitioning from 5 V to 3.3 V logic. At 227 MHz maximum toggle rate, timing margins comfortably cover backplane-speed transactions. For new high-volume designs the same footprint accepts higher-density SX-A members such as the A54SX32A-TQG144I, providing a forward path if the control logic grows without a PCB respin.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Bench and production instruments use the A54SX16A-TQG144A for trigger state machines, counter/timer capture logic, and interface translation between front-end circuitry and the host processor. The 227 MHz toggle capability supports high-resolution event counting, and the antifuse architecture contributes deterministic timing with no configuration-load jitter at power-up - important for instruments that must be measurement-ready immediately. The single 2.25 V to 5.25 V supply simplifies rack power design, and the 144-TQFP 20 x 20 mm package fits standard instrumentation PCB geometries. Because the configuration is permanent, units shipped to production test floors behave identically forever, eliminating field firmware-corruption returns. Prototype designs should be fully simulated before programming since OTP silicon cannot be reworked.
Recommended
Legacy Program Sustainment and Last-Time-Buy Bridge
Many obsolete ASIC, gate array, and discrete-logic designs from the 1990s are sustained today on SX-A antifuse FPGAs, and the A54SX16A-TQG144A is a natural migration target: 24K gates accommodate mid-size legacy netlists, the 5 V-capable 2.25 V to 5.25 V I/O range matches original TTL-era board environments, and the permanent configuration replicates fixed-logic behavior exactly. Design teams can map vintage schematics into the Libero SoC toolchain, verify by simulation, and program replacement devices without redesigning surrounding PCB circuitry. Because the same TQG144 footprint is shared across commercial, industrial, and military temperature builds, one layout serves all deployment environments. This makes the device a practical last-time-buy bridge when original PAL, GAL, or MACH devices reach end-of-life.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A54SX16A-TQG144A — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A54SX16A-1TQG144A | A54SX16A-TQG144I | A54SX16A-TQG144M | A54SX32A-TQG144I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-TQFP (20x20) | 144-TQFP (20x20) - same | 144-TQFP (20x20) - same | 144-TQFP (20x20) - same | 144-TQFP (20x20) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Microsemi/Actel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 24,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 32,000 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.25 V to 5.25 V | 2.25 V to 5.25 V | 2.25 V to 5.25 V | 2.25 V to 5.25 V | 2.25 V to 5.25 V |
| Temperature Range | Commercial | Commercial | Industrial | Military | Industrial |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Configuration security without encryption management (vs SRAM-based FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx Spartan))
- Instant-on operation with zero boot time (vs A54SX16A-1TQG144A / SRAM FPGAs generally)
- Single 2.25 V to 5.25 V supply (vs A54SX32A-TQG144I (same range) and modern multi-rail FPGAs)
Design Notes
The A54SX16A is one-time programmable: once antifuses are blown, the device cannot be erased or reworked. Complete functional simulation, synthesis timing closure, and worst-case corner analysis in Libero SoC (or legacy Actel Designer) before programming any production unit. Order engineering samples in small lots and program incrementally - a latent timing violation discovered after programming means scrapping the device. Budget for at least one full prototype iteration in your schedule.
The device operates from a single 2.25 V to 5.25 V supply with no separate core rail, so no power sequencing circuit is required. Estimated: static antifuse power is very low because unprogrammed interconnect draws no leakage current path; dynamic power scales with toggle rate, so constrain high-activity clocks to the lowest frequency that meets performance. Decouple with at least 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors per power pin plus 10 uF bulk per supply domain, placed within 5 mm of the pin.
The 144-TQFP (20 x 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) footprint requires the standard TQFP-144 land pattern; verify the exact mechanical drawing in the SX-A family datasheet before layout release. Keep the 227 MHz-class clock traces short and reference a solid ground plane. Because one footprint serves A54SX16A and A54SX32A variants, lay out for the larger variant's current draw if an upgrade path is desired, and confirm pinout mapping against the family datasheet pin tables.
Compliance Information
RoHS Compliant and Lead Free per distributor listings (DigiKey, digchip). Other compliance attributes not stated in provided data.
