EP1C12Q240 - Cyclone FPGA 12060 LE 173 IO | Altera
MPN: EP1C12Q240 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $45.9 | $45.90 |
| 10 | $41.2 | $412.00 |
| 100 | $36.75 | $3,675.00 |
| 500 | $31.4 | $15,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $28.1 | $28,100.00 |
| 3,000 | $25.6 | $76,800.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C12Q240 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1C12Q240C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$24.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$119 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$30.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$22.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240I7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$30.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array |
| Series | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements | 12,060 LE |
| Logic Array Blocks | 1,206 LABs |
| Total RAM Bits | 239,616 bits |
| Number of User I/O | 173 |
| Package | 240-BFQFP |
| Number of Pins | 240 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Process Technology | 0.13-um all-layer copper SRAM process |
| Configuration Technology | SRAM-based, reconfigurable |
| JTAG Boundary-Scan | Supported |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete - Cyclone I family |
EP1C12Q240 240-bfqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C12Q240 (240-bfqfp package) with 240 pins. 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 EP1C12Q240.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 240 pins (digital package)
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
EP1C12Q240 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control and PLC I/O, VGA and Retro Video Generation, Communication Protocol Bridging, Data Acquisition and Test Instrumentation, Education and FPGA Prototyping, Legacy System Replacement and Obsolescence Management.
Industrial Motor Control and PLC I/O
The EP1C12Q240 fits industrial motor and PLC I/O applications because 173 general-purpose I/O pins can connect to optocouplers, incremental encoders, and gate-driver logic while 12,060 logic elements implement state machines, PWM generators, and safety interlocks. Place the FPGA between a 3.3-V I/O plane and industrial transceivers using level translators such as 74LVC4245 when 5-V compatibility is needed. The 239,616 RAM bits can store small look-up tables for encoder correction or PID coefficient storage. The 1.5-V core requires a dedicated regulator, and an EPCS configuration device provides standalone startup. This package is suitable for retrofit boards where BGA assembly is unavailable, and the 240-pin QFP leads allow easier inspection than area-array packages.
Recommended
VGA and Retro Video Generation
Retro video and display systems benefit from the EP1C12Q240 because its 173 user I/O pins can produce VGA RGB, HSYNC, and VSYNC, control a 1024x768 LCD panel interface, and connect to external SDRAM. The OneChipBook-12 development platform demonstrates this application with an EP1C12Q240 FPGA driving a 1024x768 VGA display. With 12,060 logic elements, designers can implement pixel counters, line buffers, color LUTs, and simple 2D graphics engines. The 239,616 RAM bits are too small for full frame storage, so an external SDRAM or SRAM is normally required. Because the FPGA is configurable, video timing changes can be made in firmware rather than requiring new PCB spins.
Recommended
Communication Protocol Bridging
The EP1C12Q240 is well suited to communication bridging because 12,060 logic elements can implement UART, SPI, I2C, parallel bus, and simple MAC-layer functions, while 239,616 RAM bits buffer packet or command data. The 173 I/O pins are useful for connecting to legacy parallel buses, memory-mapped host interfaces, and multiple serial transceivers. For example, the FPGA can translate a legacy 8-bit microprocessor bus into SPI for a peripheral, or combine several UART streams into one host interface. Designers should include EPCS configuration memory and a companion CPLD for power sequencing because the SRAM-based FPGA needs external configuration at every power-up. The 1.5-V core should be isolated from the I/O supply to keep signal integrity clean.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Test Instrumentation
In data acquisition and test instrumentation, the EP1C12Q240 provides enough logic to capture parallel ADC outputs, trigger on digital events, and stream data to a host interface. The 173 user I/O pins can connect 14-bit or 16-bit ADC buses, DACs, and trigger inputs. The 239,616 RAM bits support small acquisition FIFOs, while deeper buffers can be implemented with external SRAM or SDRAM. The 1.5-V core and 0.13-um SRAM process reduce dynamic power compared to older 2.5-V logic families, but the obsolete Cyclone I family is still useful in instruments that cannot be redesigned. Place analog supplies on a separate PCB plane and add series resistors between the FPGA and high-speed ADC outputs to control edge currents.
Recommended
Education and FPGA Prototyping
The EP1C12Q240 is useful for education and FPGA prototyping because it exposes 173 user I/O pins through a 240-pin QFP that can be routed on a low-cost two-layer or four-layer PCB. With 12,060 logic elements, students can implement digital counters, state machines, UARTs, VGA timing generators, and simple processor cores. The 239,616 RAM bits provide enough storage for small register files and line buffers. Since Cyclone I is obsolete, education boards may rely on existing stock, but the device remains a practical way to learn classic FPGA design flow. An EPCS configuration device or JTAG download cable is required to configure the SRAM-based FPGA on every power-up; this also teaches real-world configuration management.
Recommended
Legacy System Replacement and Obsolescence Management
The EP1C12Q240 family is often used in legacy system replacement because original Cyclone I products may have been discontinued but existing PCB layouts still require a 240-pin BFQFP FPGA. Same-footprint suffix variants such as EP1C12Q240C8N, EP1C12Q240C6N, and EP1C12Q240I7N can be evaluated as drop-in replacements without changing the board. The base EP1C12Q240 provides 12,060 logic elements, 239,616 RAM bits, and 173 I/O pins, which is enough to replicate older 5-V glue logic when combined with external level translators. When replacing the part, verify temperature grade, speed grade, lead finish, and configuration file compatibility, and review the original timing constraints against the selected speed grade before manufacturing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C12Q240 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C12Q240C8N | EP1C12Q240C6N | EP1C12Q240I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 240-BFQFP | 240-BFQFP | 240-BFQFP | 240-BFQFP |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Elements | 12,060 LE | 12,060 LE | 12,060 LE | 12,060 LE |
| Total RAM Bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits |
| Number of User I/O | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 |
| Speed Grade | Unspecified in base ordering code | -8 | -6 | -7 |
| Temperature Grade | Unspecified in base ordering code | Commercial | Commercial | Industrial |
| Lead Finish / RoHS | Unspecified in base ordering code | Lead-free N suffix | Lead-free N suffix | Lead-free N suffix |
Key Differentiators
- 240-pin QFP package with exposed, inspectable leads (vs EP1C12F324C8N)
- Multiple same-footprint suffix variants remain available in distributor listings (vs EP1C12Q240 base ordering code)
- Drop-in replacement choice is maintained entirely within the same brand family (vs Cross-brand FPGA alternatives)
Design Notes
The EP1C12Q240 core is powered from a 1.5-V supply, while I/O banks may use separate I/O supplies. Estimate core current by reviewing the Cyclone family power calculator or using an early power estimate from the Quartus settings before selecting a regulator. Add at least one 100 nF ceramic capacitor per core supply pin group and a bulk 10 uF capacitor near the 1.5-V power entry point. If the design uses many 3.3-V I/O pins, separate the 3.3-V and 1.5-V planes to avoid coupling switching noise into the low-voltage core regulator.
The 240-pin BFQFP is a fine-pitch surface-mount package. Route the fan-out with controlled impedance when using high-speed interface standards, and provide visible test points on configuration pins such as nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, DCLK, and DATA0. Since this is a QFP rather than BGA, probe access is easier, but ensure the package orientation and pin 1 marker match the datasheet. For prototype boards, use a four-layer stack with solid ground and power planes; if using two layers, minimize long parallel I/O traces and add ground stitching around the FPGA perimeter.
One common pitfall is ordering the base part number EP1C12Q240 without a temperature, speed, or lead-free suffix and assuming a specific grade. Always use the complete ordering code, such as EP1C12Q240C8N, C6N, or I7N, on the BOM. Another pitfall is omitting external configuration memory: the device is SRAM-based and loses its configuration on power-down. Use an EPCS configuration device or configure through a host processor via passive serial or JTAG. Also verify that the configuration voltage standard selected in the software matches the I/O bank voltage on the board.
Compliance Information
The base EP1C12Q240 ordering code does not include the N suffix, so lead-free/RoHS status is not confirmed. N-suffix variants such as EP1C12Q240C8N, C6N, and I7N are lead-free per Altera naming. No explicit RoHS/REACH statements appeared in the verified web data.
