EP1C12Q240I7N - Cyclone FPGA, 12,060 LE, 173 I/O | Intel
MPN: EP1C12Q240I7N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47.65 | $47.65 |
| 10 | $42.9 | $429.00 |
| 100 | $38.35 | $3,835.00 |
| 500 | $34.2 | $17,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $30.85 | $30,850.00 |
EP1C12Q240I7N Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit containing programmable logic blocks and configurable interconnects that allow designers to implement arbitrary digital logic after manufacturing. In the IC hierarchy it sits above fixed-function ASICs and below microprocessors for parallel hardware tasks in the programmable logic / FPGA / CPLD product category. FPGAs are configured from external memory at power-up and can be reconfigured during development, which makes them valuable for prototyping, bus bridging, digital signal preprocessing, and I/O expansion where custom timing and parallel operations are needed.
Key features include 1,206 logic array blocks organized as 12,060 logic elements, 173 user I/O pins, and 239,616 bits of embedded RAM. The listed 320.1 MHz internal clock capability and 1.5 V core reduce dynamic power for moderate-density control and interface logic. The industrial-temperature ordering distinguishes this component from commercial C variants and extends usability in factory, outdoor, and vehicle-adjacent systems where the ambient temperature stresses silicon.
Architecturally, the Cyclone device is built on a 130 nm process and balances low cost with predictable timing. Each LAB contains ten logic elements, and the embedded memory blocks enable small FIFOs, distributed RAM, and register files without additional external SRAM. The 173 I/O pins in the PQFP-240 package support bank-based I/O supply connections and can typically interface with common 3.3 V/2.5 V/1.8 V logic families, although exact VCCIO assignments must be verified against the Cyclone pin table before layout. The package's 0.50 mm lead pitch is compatible with conventional SMT assembly and is generally more rework-friendly than BGA alternatives.
Typical applications include industrial PLC I/O expansion, motor-control interface logic, serial protocol bridging, LCD timing and frame capture, test-equipment pattern generation, and medical monitoring front-end sequencing. The balanced combination of 12,060 logic elements, 173 I/Os, 239,616 RAM bits, and industrial temperature support makes this an attractive choice when a design needs dozens of parallel signals but does not require a large high-end FPGA.
One important design consideration is power integrity: the 1.5 V core rail must be decoupled very close to every VCCINT pin and generated by a low-noise 1.5 V regulator. VCCIO rails should each have local bulk and ceramic capacitance. In addition, the FPGA configuration pins require pull-up resistors and an EPCS serial configuration device unless the board is limited to JTAG-only download during debug.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, ordering-code comparisons, package geometry, and practical FPGA design notes that are not all consolidated in one datasheet passage. It is maintained with verification data from DigiKey, Mouser, and Octopart, giving engineers a faster, citation-ready overview.
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C12Q240I7N — 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 EP1C12Q240I7N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Process Technology, Package, Total RAM Bits, Package Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1C12Q240I7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$30.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$119 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$22.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240I6
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$55 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$24.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240I7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 12,060 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1,206 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239,616 bits |
| Number of User I/O | 173 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Process Technology | 130 nm |
| Internal Clock Frequency (Listed) | 320.1 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Speed Grade | 7 |
| Package | 240-PQFP / 240-BFQFP |
| Package Body Size | 34.60 x 34.60 mm |
| Lead Pitch | 0.50 mm |
| Number of Pins | 240 |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP1C12Q240I7N 34.60 x 34.60 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP1C12Q240I7N (34.60 x 34.60 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 EP1C12Q240I7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP1C12Q240I7N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial PLC I/O Expansion, Motor Control Interface and Timing Logic, Serial Protocol Bridging and UART/SPI/I2C Expansion, Test and Measurement Pattern Generation, LCD and Camera Timing Generation, Medical Monitoring Front-End Sequencing.
Industrial PLC I/O Expansion
The EP1C12Q240I7N suits PLC I/O expansion cards because its 173 user I/O pins can monitor limit switches, encoder inputs, valve drivers, and serial industrial buses in parallel. At 1.5 V core, the FPGA integrates the protocol state machines and 24 V optocoupler conditioning logic without a large CPLD bank. The industrial temperature I suffix allows reliable operation near warm cabinet environments where commercial C variants may fail. Designers should allocate one I/O bank for the backplane interface and another for the field-side logic, using 3.3 V or 2.5 V I/O levels after level translation. The 12,060 logic elements provide ample resources for filtering, debouncing, and diagnostics while leaving room for small soft-core logic if needed.
Recommended
Motor Control Interface and Timing Logic
Motor drives require deterministic PWM generation, encoder decoding, and fault management. The EP1C12Q240I7N can implement the PWM time base, commutation logic, and protection state machine in programmable logic without burdening the host MCU. Its clock capability near 320.1 MHz is sufficient for several-kHz PWM carrier cycles with dead-band generation. The 239,616 RAM bits allow small look-up tables for sine/trapezoidal commutation profiles and fault history buffers. Industrial temperature capability is important because motor cabinets often exceed 70 °C ambient. A practical concern is that an FPGA adds configuration boot delay, so a supervisory MCU should hold the drive in a safe state until CONF_DONE is asserted.
Recommended
Serial Protocol Bridging and UART/SPI/I2C Expansion
When equipment needs many UART, SPI, or I2C channels, the EP1C12Q240I7N provides enough logic elements to implement multiple soft protocol controllers with FIFO buffering in embedded RAM. The 173 I/O pins allow several dedicated byte-wide buses and chip selects to be routed directly to transceivers, ADC/DACs, or LCD modules. Because the device is reconfigurable, the same PCB can support different protocol mappings by changing only the FPGA image. For industrial serial gateways, the I7N industrial temperature range is better than that of C-suffix parts. The designer should constrain the timing of each serial clock domain and use synchronous FIFOs to cross from one I/O bank clock to another without metastability.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Pattern Generation
ATE and benchtop instruments require deterministic digital pattern generation with precise edge placement. The EP1C12Q240I7N can generate stimulus vectors across 173 I/O pins using internal state machines and small RAM-based vector tables. The 12,060 logic elements are enough to implement counters, address generators, and checksum logic while leaving resources for trigger and acquisition controls. Because industrial temperature is specified, the device can be used in rack-mounted instrumentation where airflow is limited. For high-speed patterns, designers should use the FPGA's PLL resources and constrain output trace lengths; in low-speed functional testers, the PQFP package is easier to probe and rework than BGA. The exact PLL and trace timing should be verified with Quartus timing analysis.
Recommended
LCD and Camera Timing Generation
LCD panels and CMOS image sensors need precise pixel clocks, horizontal/vertical sync, and data latches. The EP1C12Q240I7N can generate these timing signals using its programmable logic without adding many external timing ICs. The 173 user I/O pins connect directly to parallel RGB/LVDS transceiver or camera data buses, while 239,616 RAM bits provide line buffers for small image regions. The moderate speed grade-7 device supports pixel clocks in the tens to low hundreds of megahertz for typical VGA/SVGA sensors and small TFT panels. Careful board layout is needed to keep data and clock trace lengths matched. Since display timing is critical, the configuration bitstream should be loaded from an external serial configuration device at power-up to avoid undefined display states.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring Front-End Sequencing
Medical monitoring equipment requires deterministic sequencing of analog front-end channels, data converters, and isolation barriers. The EP1C12Q240I7N can control multiplexer address counters, ADC sample clocks, and data packing logic with low software overhead. Its 12,060 logic elements and 239,616 RAM bits are sufficient for sample averaging, threshold detection, and communication framing. The industrial temperature version gives margin for equipment that is transported or stored outside a tightly controlled hospital room. A key safety consideration is that FPGA configuration must complete before patient-connected circuitry starts scanning; a supervisor circuit should monitor CONF_DONE and hold outputs in a safe state. Any firmware developed for this mature FPGA family should follow the manufacturer's configuration and boundary-scan guidance.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C12Q240I7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C12Q240I7 | EP1C12Q240C6N | EP1C12Q240C7 | EP1C12Q240C7N | EP1C12Q240I6 | EP1C12Q240C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) | PQFP-240 / 240-BFQFP (same) |
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Family | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 |
| RAM Bits | 239,616 | 239,616 | 239,616 | 239,616 | 239,616 | 239,616 | 239,616 |
| User I/O | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (I) | Industrial (I) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Industrial (I) | Commercial (C) |
| Speed Grade | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) | No (no N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | No (no N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Unknown | Yes (N suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade balanced with speed grade 7 (vs EP1C12Q240C7N)
- Lead-free N suffix for RoHS-oriented assembly (vs EP1C12Q240I7)
- Hand-solderable/reworkable PQFP-240 footprint (vs EP1C12F324I7N)
Design Notes
Estimated: For a mid-density Cyclone FPGA, core current can range from roughly 100 mA to over 400 mA depending on utilization and clock activity. At 1.5 V, the core power may be 0.2 W to 0.6 W plus I/O power. Provide a clean 1.5 V rail with local bulk capacitance of at least 10 uF and place 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors adjacent to every VCCINT pin cluster. If a switching regulator is used, choose one with low ripple in the switching frequency band to avoid FPGA performance degradation. Verify the exact supply current with Intel/Altera power analysis before board release.
The PQFP-240 package has a 34.60 x 34.60 mm body with 0.50 mm lead pitch and gull-wing terminals. Use a fine-pitch stencil and appropriate solder paste for 0.5 mm QFP assembly. Fan out all 240 pins using short traces from the package perimeter; avoid placing vias directly under the component body unless the board stack-up and assembly process are qualified for via-in-pad. Since the part has no central exposed pad, the main heat path is through the leads and PCB copper, so provide solid ground and power planes close to the FPGA to improve thermal spreading.
A common Cyclone pitfall is leaving configuration signals unterminated. The nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, and DCLK pins must be handled according to the device handbook: CONF_DONE and nSTATUS usually need pull-up resistors, and nCONFIG must not be allowed to float during power-up. If nCE is not tied low in master configuration, the FPGA will not configure correctly. Also, remember that the FPGA image is volatile; without an EPCS serial configuration device or JTAG download during every power-up, the design will remain unconfigured.
Compliance Information
The N suffix in the Altera/Intel ordering code is commonly used to denote a lead-free package; however, the provided web snippets do not include a RoHS or REACH certificate. Treat full RoHS/REACH status as unknown until confirmed from the package marking, datasheet, or manufacturer compliance documentation.
