A54SX72A-CQ256 - 108K Gate Antifuse FPGA, 203 I/O | Microchip
MPN: A54SX72A-CQ256 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $262 | $2,620.00 |
| 100 | $238 | $23,800.00 |
| 500 | $215 | $107,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $196 | $196,000.00 |
A54SX72A-CQ256 Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing a fabric of programmable logic blocks and interconnects that the designer configures after manufacturing. Within the programmable logic hierarchy, the SX-A sits in the antifuse FPGA category: one-time programmable (OTP) devices whose interconnect is permanently set at programming time, in contrast to SRAM-based FPGAs from the volatile-configuration branch of power management of system digital logic.
Key differentiating features include the antifuse interconnect, which provides non-volatile, configuration-readback-free operation with inherent design security and no external configuration PROM requirement; support for TTL, LVTTL, LVCMOS2, 3.3 V PCI, and 5 V PCI input standards; quadrant clock inputs (CLKA-CLKD) feeding global clock distribution networks; and low static power typical of antifuse technology.
Architecturally, the SX-A fabric combines combinational and sequential modules, dedicated flip-flops, and wide-decode resources, enabling glue logic consolidation, bus interfacing, and state-machine integration into a single chip. The ceramic CQFP package with tie bar supports surface-mount assembly and delivers superior thermal and reliability characteristics compared with plastic packages, making it suited to demanding environments.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation, communications and networking backplanes, aerospace and defense prototyping systems, medical instrumentation, and test equipment, where single-chip integration of legacy ASIC or multiple-CPLD functions reduces board cost and power.
Design consideration: antifuse FPGAs are one-time programmable, so functional verification must be complete before programming; use Actel/Microchip Libero or Designer software flows and reserve I/O and quadrant clocks per the SX-A datasheet guidelines.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in packaging-variant alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for A54SX72A-CQ256 — 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 A54SX72A-CQ256 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, System Gates, Family, Process Technology, Maximum Toggle Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A54SX72A-1CQ256
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-CQ256M
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2429.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-CQ256B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$228 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-1CQ256M
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX32A-CQ256
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX72A-CQ256 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | SX-A (Actel/Microsemi antifuse FPGA) |
| System Gates | 108000 gates |
| Typical Gates | 72000 gates |
| Logic Modules | 4024 modules |
| User I/O | 203 |
| Maximum System Frequency | 217 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um / 0.25 um CMOS antifuse |
| Programming Type | One-time programmable (antifuse) |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| I/O Supply Support | 2.5 V, 3.3 V, 5 V |
| I/O Standards | TTL, LVTTL, LVCMOS2, 3.3 V PCI, 5 V PCI |
| Quadrant Clock Inputs | 4 (CLKA, CLKB, CLKC, CLKD) |
| Package | 256-pin CQFP (BFCQFP with tie bar), ceramic |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
A54SX72A-CQ256 256-pin cqfp (bfcqfp with tie bar), ceramic Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for A54SX72A-CQ256 (256-pin cqfp (bfcqfp with tie bar), ceramic 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-CQ256.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
A54SX72A-CQ256 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Communications and Networking Backplanes, Aerospace and Defense Prototyping, Medical Instrumentation, Test and Measurement Equipment, Legacy ASIC/Multi-CPLD Consolidation.
Industrial Control and Automation
The A54SX72A-CQ256 integrates PLC glue logic, motor-control state machines, and multi-voltage bus interfacing into a single 108K-gate chip, reducing board count and BOM cost in factory automation systems. Its 203 user I/O with TTL, LVTTL, LVCMOS2, 3.3 V PCI, and 5 V PCI support allows direct connection to legacy 5 V industrial sensors and modern 3.3 V controllers without level shifters, while the 2.5 V core keeps static power low in always-on installations. The antifuse fabric is one-time programmed, eliminating configuration-boot delays in safety interlocks that must be active at power-up. The ceramic CQFP package withstands industrial vibration and thermal cycling better than plastic alternatives.
Recommended
Communications and Networking Backplanes
In telecom and datacom line cards, the A54SX72A-CQ256 provides protocol bridging, bus multiplexing, and backplane interface logic at up to 217 MHz system performance, sufficient for many legacy TDM and packet-backplane designs. The four quadrant clock inputs (CLKA-CLKD) allow per-quadrant clock domains, and the antifuse interconnect delivers deterministic timing with no configuration-load time on card insertion - an advantage over SRAM FPGAs in hot-swap slots. The 203 I/O support 5 V PCI and 3.3 V PCI standards directly, matching legacy backplane signaling. Deterministic antifuse routing also simplifies timing closure for fixed-latency path requirements.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Prototyping
Per Microchip application note AC195, the SX-A family serves as the commercial prototyping counterpart in the RT54SX-S radiation-tolerant path, and the ceramic CQ256 package aligns with hi-rel assembly practices. The A54SX72A-CQ256 lets teams develop and validate flight-representative logic on commercial antifuse silicon before migrating to RT-grade devices, sharing the same software flow and architecture. Its non-volatile antifuse fabric contains no readable configuration bitstream, supporting anti-tamper requirements. The ceramic package's thermal performance supports conduction-cooled enclosure designs common in defense electronics, and its 108K-gate capacity accommodates substantial signal-processing or interface logic blocks.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation
Diagnostic and laboratory medical equipment benefits from the A54SX72A-CQ256's instant-on antifuse operation and low quiescent power in instruments that cycle frequently between standby and measurement. The 203 user I/O interface acquisition front ends, control panels, and communication modules across mixed 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5 V domains without external translators, and the deterministic antifuse timing supports fixed-latency trigger paths in imaging and measurement subsystems. The ceramic package improves long-term reliability expected of capital medical equipment, and the fixed, secure logic configuration satisfies regulatory revalidation needs since the programmed design cannot drift or be altered in the field.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
Bench instruments and automated test systems use the A54SX72A-CQ256 as timing-controller, pattern-generator, and bus-analyzer logic, exploiting the 217 MHz system performance and wide 5 V-tolerant I/O coverage to interface with DUTs spanning several voltage generations. The antifuse fabric's deterministic routing simplifies calibration of fixed-timing stimulus paths, and instant-on configuration eliminates the boot delay SRAM FPGAs impose on test-sequence startup. The 108K-gate capacity integrates counters, comparators, and protocol engines that previously consumed multiple CPLDs, cutting board area. The ceramic CQFP also reflows reliably across repeated assembly cycles in service-repair environments.
Recommended
Legacy ASIC/Multi-CPLD Consolidation
The SX-A family is explicitly positioned by Microchip for integrating multiple functions into a single low-cost chip, making the A54SX72A-CQ256 a natural replacement for obsolete ASICs and clusters of CPLDs in long-lifecycle systems. Its 108K system gates absorb address decoders, bus bridges, and glue logic from aging boards whose original ASICs are no longer manufactured, and the antifuse one-time programming recreates ASIC-like fixed behavior. Supporting 5 V PCI and TTL inputs, it connects directly into legacy 5 V system buses. The ceramic CQFP keeps the replacement footprint serviceable for through-hole-era-adjacent assemblies adapted to surface mount.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A54SX72A-CQ256 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A54SX72A-1CQ256 | A54SX72A-CQ256M | A54SX72A-CQ256B | A54SX72A-1CQ256M | A54SX32A-CQ256 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-CQFP ceramic (BFCQFP with tie bar) | 256-CQFP ceramic - same | 256-CQFP ceramic - same | 256-CQFP ceramic - same | 256-CQFP ceramic - same | 256-CQFP ceramic - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Actel/Microsemi) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 | 36,000-class (smaller die) |
| Speed Grade | Standard | -1 (faster) | Standard | Standard (B suffix) | -1 (faster) | Standard |
| User I/O | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 213 | Fewer (smaller die) |
| Core Supply | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| PCB Modification Required | N/A (reference) | No | No | No | No | No (but design must fit smaller fabric) |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest timing margin in the CQ256 ceramic footprint (vs A54SX72A-CQ256 (this part, standard grade))
- Military temperature screening option (vs A54SX72A-CQ256M)
- Full 108K-gate capacity within the shared footprint (vs A54SX32A-CQ256)
Design Notes
The SX-A is a one-time-programmable antifuse FPGA: once programmed, the design cannot be erased or revised. Complete functional simulation, timing closure, and hardware emulation in the Libero/Designer flow before committing the device. Order prototype quantities generously (including spares) since a single bitstream error consumes a chip. Budget for this by validating on the same die in a lower-cost package where the design allows, then programming CQ256 production units with the verified bitstream.
The 256-pin ceramic CQFP with tie bar has leads on all four sides at 0.5 mm-class pitch; design the land pattern strictly to the Microchip/IPC-recommended CQFP-256 footprint and inspect solder joints with X-ray or angled microscopy, since lead coplanarity issues on large CQFPs are a classic assembly defect. Handle devices in ESD-controlled conditions and support the tie bar during reflow per the package handling notes in the SX-A datasheet to prevent lead deformation.
Use the four quadrant clock inputs (CLKA-CLKD, mapped to bottom-left, bottom-right, top-left, and top-right quadrants) to partition clock domains and keep high-fanout clocks off the general routing. Provide one 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor per power/ground pin pair plus bulk capacitance at the board level, and keep 5 V-tolerant inputs away from fast edge sources when mixed with 2.5 V signaling to avoid overshoot stress. Refer to Microchip's quadrant clocks application note for A54SX72A-specific clock macro usage.
Compliance Information
Ceramic CQFP hermetic package. Compliance status not stated in the verified web data; confirm RoHS/REACH/lead status with Microchip product compliance documentation before procurement.
