EP1C12Q240C6 - Cyclone FPGA, 12K LE, 240-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP1C12Q240C6 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $43.5 | $43.50 |
| 10 | $40 | $400.00 |
| 100 | $36 | $3,600.00 |
| 500 | $32.5 | $16,250.00 |
| 1,000 | $29 | $29,000.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C12Q240C6 — 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:
EP1C12Q240C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$119 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$22.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C8N
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$24.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240I7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C8
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View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| FPGA Family | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements | 12060 cells |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1206 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239616 |
| User I/O Count | 173 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Process Technology | 130 nm |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 405.2 MHz |
| Package Type | 240-PQFP (BFQFP) |
| Number of Pins | 240 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Part Category | FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
EP1C12Q240C6 240-pqfp (bfqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C12Q240C6 (240-pqfp (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 EP1C12Q240C6.
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
EP1C12Q240C6 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Motor Control, Communication Protocol Bridging, Video and Image Acquisition Front-End, Medical Device Interface Board, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Embedded Prototyping and Education.
Industrial Automation and Motor Control
The EP1C12Q240C6 suits industrial motor control because its 12,060 LEs can implement three-phase PWM state machines, resolver/encoder decoding, and fault-protection interlock logic in parallel hardware. With 173 user I/O, it can monitor Hall sensors, current-sense ADCs, and drive gate-driver signals without an external CPLD for glue logic. The 1.5V core reduces power in closed cabinets, while 405.2MHz capability gives headroom for high-frequency current-loop calculations. In a typical servo drive, the FPGA sits between a host MCU and gate driver array, offloading timing-critical PWM generation. Because it is SRAM-based, it must boot from an EPCS serial configuration flash; the PQFP package is easier to route on a four-layer industrial controller board than a BGA.
Recommended
Communication Protocol Bridging
This FPGA is well suited to protocol bridging because its logic density allows multiple serial ports, FIFOs, and simple CPU cores to coexist in parallel fabric. The 173 I/O pins can connect to UART/SPI/I2C transceivers, Ethernet PHYs, and backplane transceivers while leaving pins for status LEDs and control. The 239,616 RAM bits provide useful packet buffering for short frames, reducing the burden on an external SRAM. Operating from 1.5V core and 3.3V I/O, the EP1C12Q240C6 matches common FPGA I/O voltages used in communication line cards. Designers must pay attention to configuration during power-up so that the bridge does not hold the backplane in an undefined state until the bitstream is loaded.
Recommended
Video and Image Acquisition Front-End
In video capture boards, EP1C12Q240C6 can receive parallel digital video from CMOS sensors or ADCs, perform line buffering, color space conversion, and simple filtering before passing pixel streams to a downstream DSP or SoC. The 239,616 RAM bits are enough for several horizontal line buffers at VGA/480p resolutions, while the 173 user I/O connect to sensor control signals, SDRAM address/data buses, and host interface logic. The high 405.2 MHz internal clock supports pixel rates common in standard-definition video without difficulty. Because video systems often require multiple power rails, the 1.5V core and 3.3V I/O must be well decoupled close to the FPGA pins. Configuration from EPCS flash allows autonomous boot in camera and machine-vision products.
Recommended
Medical Device Interface Board
Medical monitoring equipment often requires deterministic data acquisition and isolation control. The EP1C12Q240C6 can integrate multi-channel analog front-end control, digital filtering, and host-interface timing in one programmable device, enabling last-minute algorithm changes without PCB revision. Its 12,060 logic elements are sufficient for decimation filters, threshold detection, and alarm logic, while the 173 I/O pins connect to ADCs, DACs, display panels, and isolated communication transceivers. The device's SRAM-based nature means the configuration bitstream should be stored in secure or checksum-protected external flash. When designing for medical safety standards, careful power sequencing and separate I/O banks for sensitive analog ground boundaries help reduce digital noise coupling; this FPGA's pin count and 1.5V core are favorable for compact medical interface boards.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Benchtop instruments use FPGAs to handle trigger logic, time-stamping, pattern generation, and data formatting. The EP1C12Q240C6 provides ample logic to build custom trigger machines and high-speed counters with tight deterministic timing. Its 239,616 RAM bits function as acquisition buffers for moderate record lengths, while 173 user I/O connect to comparators, ADCs, DACs, and front-panel controls. Because test equipment is often deployed for many years, designers should consider the full lifecycle and the availability of compatible EP1C12Q240 variants for repair and redesign. The 240-pin PQFP package allows prototyping on standard four-layer boards without expensive BGA socketing. For measurement accuracy, separate analog and digital grounds and localized 1.5V core decoupling are critical layout steps.
Recommended
Embedded Prototyping and Education
For teaching digital design and FPGA prototyping, the EP1C12Q240C6 is an approachable mid-density device because it fits simple RISC soft-core processors, basic VGA generators, and custom peripheral controllers. Its 240-pin PQFP is easier to solder in labs than high-pin-count BGAs, and the 1.5V core keeps power dissipation low enough for desk-top development boards. The available 173 I/O pins are sufficient to interface to seven-segment displays, push buttons, SRAM, and UART-to-USB bridges. When used with a downloadable Cyclone bitstream, students can explore combinational and sequential logic. Since this FPGA is SRAM-based, every experiment begins with a configuration load; this also makes it easy to recover from incorrect designs. Legacy leaded finish on the non-N variant may require careful handling in academic environments that mandate RoHS.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C12Q240C6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C12Q240C6N | EP1C12Q240C8N | EP1C12Q240I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Family | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone |
| Package | PQFP-240 (BFQFP) | PQFP-240 (BFQFP) | PQFP-240 (BFQFP) | PQFP-240 (BFQFP) |
| Logic Elements | 12060 | 12060 | 12060 | 12060 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 |
| User I/O Count | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| Process Technology | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 405.2 MHz | 405.2 MHz | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Speed / Temperature Grade | C6 (commercial, speed -6) | C6N (commercial, speed -6, lead-free) | C8N (commercial, speed -8, lead-free) | I7N (industrial, speed -7, lead-free) |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest Q240 speed grade available in the EP1C12 family (vs EP1C12Q240C8N)
- Legacy leaded finish can support non-RoHS soldering flows (vs EP1C12Q240C6N)
- Same-family migration path preserves PCB layout (vs FPGAs from other vendors)
Design Notes
The EP1C12Q240C6 uses a 1.5V core supply and 3.3V I/O supply. Provide a low-noise 1.5V regulator with sufficient current for the configured design; total current scales with logic utilization and toggle rate. Place a 10uF bulk capacitor plus multiple 0.1uF ceramic capacitors around the VCCINT pins. The PQFP-240 package has no exposed thermal pad, so copper pours on the top and bottom layers beneath the device help dissipate heat. Estimated power can only be calculated after place-and-route reports are generated; use the Quartus Power Analyzer for accurate numbers.
Route I/O traces from the 173 user pins with controlled impedance if the design connects to high-speed interfaces. Keep the 1.5V core plane and 3.3V I/O plane separated and place decoupling capacitors as close as possible to each VCC and GND pin. For the 240-pin PQFP, ensure the soldermask opening and pad size match IPC recommendations to avoid tombstoning. If using a socket for prototyping, add test points on all configuration pins because debug access to EPCS and JTAG lines is essential during bring-up.
Do not forget that this SRAM FPGA needs external configuration at every power-up. If the CONF_DONE and nSTATUS pins are left floating or incorrectly pulled, the FPGA may not enter user mode. Verify MSEL pin strapping for the selected configuration scheme (JTAG, passive serial, or active serial). Also check that all 173 I/O pins are assigned to legal I/O banks with compatible voltage references; connecting a 2.5V interface to a 3.3V-bank pin can damage the device.
Compliance Information
The EP1C12Q240C6 part number does not carry the Altera -N lead-free suffix, so RoHS/lead-free status is treated as unknown based on the verified data. The -N versions (C6N, C7N, C8N, I7N) are typically lead-free/RoHS, but this was not explicitly confirmed in the provided records.
