EP1C3T144I7ES - Cyclone FPGA 2910 LEs 104 I/O 144-LQFP | Altera
MPN: EP1C3T144I7ES ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.75 | $167.50 |
| 100 | $14.9 | $1,490.00 |
| 500 | $13.25 | $6,625.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.8 | $11,800.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C3T144I7ES — 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:
EP1C3T144I7
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View Datasheet →EP1C3T144C8N
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View Datasheet →EP1C3T144C6N
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View Datasheet →EP1C3T144I7ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
| Series | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 2910 |
| Total RAM Bits | 59904 |
| Number of CLBs | 2910 |
| Maximum User I/O | 104 |
| Number of Dedicated Inputs | 104 |
| Number of Dedicated Outputs | 104 |
| Package Type | 144-LQFP (T144) LFQFP |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Number of Terminals | 144 |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Operating Temperature (Industrial) | -40C to +100C |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 1.5 V |
| Process Node | 0.13 µm all-layer copper SRAM |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 320 MHz |
| Configuration Modes | Passive Serial (PS), Active Serial (AS), JTAG |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP1C3T144I7ES square Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C3T144I7ES (square 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 EP1C3T144I7ES.
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
EP1C3T144I7ES is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Legacy Communication Infrastructure, Glue Logic and Bus Bridging, Motor Control and Drives, Low-Cost Video and Image Processing, Test and Measurement Equipment, Legacy Medical Device Interfaces.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EP1C3T144I7ES suits industrial control PLCs and factory automation backplanes that require 104 user I/O pins to drive opto-isolated relays, encoder inputs, and RS-485 transceivers. Its industrial -40C to +100C temperature rating ensures operation in unheated cabinets and motor-control enclosures. The 144-LQFP gull-wing package simplifies hand-prototyping and rework, which is critical for low-volume industrial systems. With 2910 LEs and 60 Kbit of block RAM, the device can host a soft 8051/MIPS core alongside custom state machines for machine sequencing. Configurable I/O banks supporting LVTTL and LVDS enable direct connection to industrial sensors without external level shifters.
Recommended
Legacy Communication Infrastructure
The EP1C3T144I7ES is widely deployed in legacy telecom and networking line cards where bus bridging and protocol conversion are needed between E1/T1 framers, TDM backplanes, and processor buses. Its 320 MHz internal clock and PLL support generation of telecom-grade 1.544 MHz, 2.048 MHz, and 8 kHz reference clocks directly from a single crystal. The 104 I/O pins easily accommodate 32-bit data buses plus framing and clock signals. The 144-LQFP package remains the preferred form factor for legacy backplane assemblies that were designed before BGA migration became standard.
Recommended
Glue Logic and Bus Bridging
For embedded systems that need flexible glue logic between microprocessors, memories, and peripherals, the EP1C3T144I7ES provides 2910 LEs of programmable logic in a single chip. It can bridge between legacy ISA/PCI buses and modern memory-mapped peripherals, or implement custom DMA controllers. The Cyclone LVDS-capable I/O pins support high-speed chip-to-chip signaling without external transceivers. Its 144-LQFP package and JTAG-based in-system programming enable field firmware updates via boundary-scan tools, which is essential for installed-base industrial equipment.
Recommended
Motor Control and Drives
The EP1C3T144I7ES is well suited for multi-axis stepper and BLDC motor control where precise PWM generation, encoder feedback processing, and current-loop math are required. Its embedded multiplier blocks and fast carry chains enable hardware-accelerated PID loops running at kHz rates. The 104 I/O pins can drive 3-phase inverter FET gate drivers, Hall-effect sensors, and incremental encoders simultaneously. Industrial temperature grade ensures operation near motor windings and power electronics. The 144-LQFP package is mechanically robust and supports hand-reworked prototypes common in motion-control R&D.
Recommended
Low-Cost Video and Image Processing
The EP1C3T144I7ES can implement video scalers, frame-rate converters, and on-screen-display overlays for cost-sensitive display products. Its LVDS-capable I/O pairs support flat-panel display interfaces including TTL RGB, and the 60 Kbit block RAM provides sufficient line buffers for CIF-resolution video pipelines. Designers can implement color space conversion (YUV-RGB) and deinterlacing entirely in FPGA fabric without external DSP. The 144-LQFP package fits small-form-factor set-top box and industrial monitor PCBs where BGAs are impractical.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
The EP1C3T144I7ES is used in bench instruments such as logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and data-acquisition front ends where flexible I/O and pattern generation are needed. Its 320 MHz operation enables real-time sampling at tens of MSPS, and 104 I/O pins provide ample channel count for multi-channel capture. The 144-LQFP form factor and JTAG-based programming accelerate development cycles. Industrial temperature rating supports use in production-line test fixtures.
Recommended
Legacy Medical Device Interfaces
For installed-base medical devices that require hardware longevity, the EP1C3T144I7ES provides a stable, long-life programmable-logic platform with 104 user I/O pins to interface sensors, displays, and serial communication ports. The industrial temperature rating supports operating-room and bedside environments. The 144-LQFP package supports hand-repairable assemblies, important for medical equipment serviceability. Designers can implement custom signal conditioning, isolation barriers, and safety interlocks entirely in programmable logic.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C3T144I7ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C3T144I7 | EP1C3T144C8N | EP1C3T144C7N | EP1C3T144C6N | EP1C3T144CB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 144-LQFP (T144) | 144-LQFP (T144) - same | 144-LQFP (T144) - same | 144-LQFP (T144) - same | 144-LQFP (T144) - same | 144-LQFP (T144) - same |
| Logic Elements | 2910 | 2910 | 2910 | 2910 | 2910 | 2910 |
| Temperature Range | Industrial -40C to +100C | Industrial -40C to +100C | Commercial 0C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +85C |
| Speed Grade | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | B |
| User I/O Pins | 104 | 104 | 104 | 104 | 104 | 104 |
| Total RAM Bits | 59904 | 59904 | 59904 | 59904 | 59904 | 59904 |
| Configuration Mode | PS / AS / JTAG | PS / AS / JTAG | PS / AS / JTAG | PS / AS / JTAG | PS / AS / JTAG | PS / AS / JTAG |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade with same speed bin as standard I7 (vs EP1C3T144C8N)
- Engineering-sample build specifically for prototyping (vs EP1C3T144I7)
- 144-LQFP gull-wing package for hand-reworkability (vs BGA-packaged Cyclone III (EP3C3BGA))
Design Notes
The Cyclone EP1C3T144I7ES requires four separate power rails: VCCINT (1.5V core), VCCIO (3.3V or 2.5V I/O banks), VCC_PLL (1.5V PLL analog), and VCCA_PLL (2.5V PLL auxiliary). Each bank must be decoupled with 0.1µF and 10µF capacitors placed within 5mm of the package pins. Estimated: at 320 MHz with 104 toggling I/O pins at 50% toggle rate, total power dissipation is approximately 0.6-0.8W; design the PCB for adequate airflow or copper thermal spreading.
Because the EP1C3T144I7ES uses SRAM configuration cells, it must be reconfigured on every power-up from an external configuration memory. The most common pitfall is omitting the EPCS configuration device or using a configuration bitstream that exceeds its 1 Mbit capacity. Use EPCS4 (4 Mbit) for designs with 2000+ LEs, and verify that the Quartus-generated .pof file size does not exceed the device capacity. JTAG chain ordering must include all devices in sequence with proper TMS/TCK termination.
The 144-LQFP package has a 0.5mm pitch and gull-wing leads. Per Altera design guidelines, the PCB land pattern should be 1.0mm wide x 0.4mm long with 0.2mm solder mask expansion. Hand-rework is straightforward with a hot-air station; do not attempt drag-soldering on the fine-pitch leads without proper flux and preheating. Place all decoupling capacitors on the same PCB layer as the FPGA to minimize via inductance. Keep all four PLL power pins properly isolated from digital switching noise.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Altera/Intel product page. AEC-Q100 is not applicable - FPGAs are not qualified to automotive reliability standards. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the datasheet excerpts available.
