A54SX72A-1CQ256M - 108K Gate Antifuse FPGA, 2.5V | Microchip
MPN: A54SX72A-1CQ256M β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8 | $8.00 |
| 10 | $7.6 | $76.00 |
| 100 | $7.2 | $720.00 |
| 500 | $6.8 | $3,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.4 | $6,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for A54SX72A-1CQ256M β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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A54SX72A-CQ256M
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2429.15 / Unit
View Datasheet βA54SX72A-CQ256B
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$228 / Unit
View Datasheet βA54SX72A-CQ256
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$196 / Unit
View Datasheet βA54SX32A-CQ256M
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX32A-CQ256B
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX32A-CQ256
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX72A-1CQ256M Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | SX-A (Actel/Microchip antifuse FPGA) |
| System Gates | 108000 |
| Raw Gates | 72000 |
| Logic Cells | 4024 |
| User I/O | 213 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Process Technology | 0.25 um |
| Maximum Toggle Rate | 250 MHz (-1 speed grade, per FPGAkey listing) |
| Speed Grade | -1 |
| Package | 256-BFCQFP with Tie Bar (CQFP, 75x75 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (TA, commercial) |
| Programming Type | One-Time Programmable (Antifuse) |
| Configuration Memory | None required (nonvolatile antifuse) |
A54SX72A-1CQ256M 256-bfcqfp with tie bar (cqfp, 75x75 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for A54SX72A-1CQ256M (256-bfcqfp with tie bar (cqfp, 75x75 mm) 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 A54SX72A-1CQ256M.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this digital IC. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
A54SX72A-1CQ256M is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Defense and Aerospace Glue Logic, Communications Line Cards, Test and Measurement Equipment, Secure Embedded Systems, Legacy System Life Extension.
Industrial Control and Automation
The A54SX72A-1CQ256M integrates PLC I/O decoding, bus bridges, and sequencing logic that would otherwise occupy dozens of discrete 74xx devices, delivering system-wide cost savings in a single 2.5V chip. Its 213 user I/O pins absorb parallel fieldbus, encoder, and relay-control signals, while the antifuse fabric is immune to configuration upsets from industrial EMI because no external configuration memory exists to corrupt. The ceramic 256-BFCQFP-with-tie-bar package withstands vibration and thermal cycling better than plastic quad packs. At 4,024 cells and quadrant clocking, typical control state machines, counters, and interlocks fit with margin; the one-time-programmable flow suits fixed-function equipment where field reconfiguration is never required.
Recommended
Defense and Aerospace Glue Logic
Military programs specify the ceramic 256-BFCQFP-with-tie-bar package for hermetic sealing, and the SX-A antifuse fabric provides instant-on behavior with no bitstream to intercept, read back, or corrupt during power-up - a recognized security advantage. The A54SX72A's 108K system gates consolidate backplane interfaces, memory decode, and protocol adaptation across the 213 I/O. Four quadrant/global clock networks (CLKA, CLKB, QCLK) independently clock radar timing, telemetry, and bus domains. Designers needing full space qualification should evaluate Microchip's HiRel RT54SX72S, which shares the SX-A architecture; the -1CQ256M targets ground-based and avionic-level equipment within 0C to +70C.
Recommended
Communications Line Cards
Telecom and datacom line cards benefit from the A54SX72A-1CQ256M's ability to merge framing logic, framer glue, backplane drivers, and LED/status decode into one low-power 2.5V device, cutting BOM count and board area on dense cards. With toggle rates up to 250 MHz for the -1 speed grade, the device handles T1/E1-class and parallel backplane timing, while the 213 I/O pins terminate multiple line interfaces simultaneously. Antifuse programming eliminates configuration-boot latency, so cards reach traffic-carrying state immediately at power-up - valuable in redundant, hot-swappable shelves. The ceramic CQFP also improves thermal robustness in unventilated outdoor cabinets where plastic packages would age faster.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
Bench and automated test instruments use the A54SX72A-1CQ256M as fixed-function timing generators, pattern decoders, and instrument backplane controllers. The -1 speed grade supports clock rates up to 250 MHz for counter/timer paths, and the one-time-programmable fabric guarantees deterministic, jitter-free behavior across the instrument's service life - no accidental reconfiguration from power glitches. Its 213 I/O accommodate relay matrix control, multi-channel compare, and front-panel interfaces, while four clock networks separate measurement, communication, and UI domains cleanly. The 75x75 mm ceramic CQFP dissipates heat across a large footprint, simplifying thermal design in enclosed instruments without forced airflow.
Recommended
Secure Embedded Systems
Where design IP protection matters, the A54SX72A-1CQ256M's antifuse architecture prevents bitstream extraction entirely: once programmed, the fuses are physically blown and invisible to any readback mechanism, unlike SRAM FPGAs whose configuration lives in external flash. This makes the part suitable for license-key controllers, encryption glue, copy-protection logic, and authentication front-ends. Instant-on operation means security logic is active before a host processor completes boot, closing race-condition windows. The 108K-gate capacity runs AES-class wrappers and interface state machines; the 2.5V supply and 0C to +70C commercial range suit embedded appliances rather than extended-temperature deployments, for which I-suffix family members are preferred.
Recommended
Legacy System Life Extension
Programs originally built around Actel SX-A devices face component obsolescence risk decades before their platform life ends. The A54SX72A-1CQ256M and its same-footprint CQ256 siblings let sustainment teams re-populate unchanged 256-pin CQFP land patterns with fresh Microchip stock, preserving original netlists programmed through the same Libero toolchain and Silicon Sculptor programmers. Because the antifuse fabric never degrades and the die is unchanged across CQ256M/CQ256B/CQ256 suffixes, qualification deltas are limited to speed-grade timing verification. Procurement via DigiKey, Mouser, and Microchip USA as of 2026-09-03 remains viable, and Octopart aggregates broker stock for allocated quantities.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A54SX72A-1CQ256M β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A54SX72A-CQ256M | A54SX72A-CQ256B | A54SX72A-CQ256 | A54SX32A-CQ256M | A54SX32A-CQ256 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-CQFP (BFCQFP with tie bar, 75x75 mm) | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Actel legacy) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 108000 | 108000 | 108000 | 108000 | 36000 | 36000 |
| Logic Cells | 4024 | 4024 | 4024 | 4024 | 1968 | 1968 |
| User I/O | 213 | 213 | 213 | 213 | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Speed Grade | -1 (up to 250 MHz) | Base (slower than -1) | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | [DATA_NEEDED] | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C |
| Configuration | Antifuse OTP, no external memory | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest CQ256 speed grade in the 72K family (vs A54SX72A-CQ256M)
- Quadruple logic capacity in identical footprint (vs A54SX32A-CQ256M)
- Hermetic ceramic package with tie bar (vs A54SX72A-1FG256M (plastic FG256))
Design Notes
Power the A54SX72A-1CQ256M core and I/O from a clean 2.5V rail within the SX-A datasheet DC tolerance window. Estimated: at 4,024 cells with moderate toggle activity, core current typically stays well below the family maximum, but peak inrush during programming must come from the programmer - ensure the Silicon Sculptor fixture supply meets its specification. Place bulk 10 uF plus 0.1 uF decoupling at each power/ground pin pair around the 75x75 mm CQFP perimeter; the large package spreads pins widely, so distributed decoupling matters more than for small QFPs.
The 256-BFCQFP with tie bar uses a 75x75 mm ceramic body with leads on all four sides plus a mechanical tie bar. Verify your land pattern against the Microchip package drawing before layout - CQFP lead-form tolerance differs from plastic PQFP footprints. The tie bar must be soldered or mechanically anchored per the drawing to meet vibration and thermal-cycling requirements in harsh-environment builds. Use a 0.5 mm-pitch-compatible stencil and inspect with X-ray or angled AOI, since CQFP gullwing leads hide solder voids beneath the ceramic body.
The antifuse fabric is one-time programmable: a design that fails post-programming verification consumes the device. Complete full timing simulation in Microchip Libero, verify all quadrant clock assignments (CLKA, CLKB, QCLK resources for the A54SX72A per the SX-A datasheet), and only then program. Also remember the commercial 0C to +70C rating - substituting this part into an extended-temperature design without selecting an I-suffix variant is a common field failure. Keep the -1 speed grade timing margin when swapping to base-grade A54SX72A-CQ256M.
With 213 I/O on a 0.25 um, 2.5V process, simultaneous switching output (SSO) noise is the main integrity risk when driving wide parallel buses. Group high-toggle-count outputs near dedicated power/ground pin pairs and stagger output switching where possible. Series-terminate long traces (typically 22-47 ohm, estimated from standard 2.5V CMOS driver practice) rather than relying on the board's load capacitance. Assign quadrant clocks so each 25%-region's local routing is not oversubscribed, as recommended in Microchip's A54SX72A quadrant clock application notes.
Compliance Information
FindIC lists 'Non-Compliant' lead-free status fields for comparison entries, but no authoritative compliance data for A54SX72A-1CQ256M was present in the verified web data; confirm with Microchip product compliance documentation before export or RoHS-sensitive builds.
