EP1C6T144I-7 - Cyclone FPGA, 5980 LEs, 144-LQFP | Altera
MPN: EP1C6T144I-7 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $27.95 | $2,795.00 |
| 500 | $22.4 | $11,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $18.75 | $18,750.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C6T144I-7 — 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:
EP1C6T144I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6T144C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6T144C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6T144I-7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 5,980 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 92,160 bits |
| Embedded RAM Blocks | 20 M4K blocks (4,608 bits each) |
| Maximum User I/O | 98 |
| Number of PLLs | 2 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 320.1 MHz (speed grade -7) |
| Process Technology | 130 nm CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.5 V |
| Package | 144-pin LQFP (TQFP), 0.5 mm pitch |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +100 °C (industrial) |
| Configuration Modes | Passive Serial, Active Serial, JTAG |
| JTAG Support | Yes (IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains lead) |
| Tray Quantity | 180 units per tray |
| Radiation Hardened | No |
| Speed Grade | -7 |
EP1C6T144I-7 144-pin lqfp (tqfp), 0.5 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C6T144I-7 (144-pin lqfp (tqfp), 0.5 mm pitch 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 EP1C6T144I-7.
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
EP1C6T144I-7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control & Automation, Motor Control Front-End, Consumer Electronics Glue Logic, Embedded Video Processing, Telecom Line-Card Glue Logic, FPGA Education & Training Platforms.
Industrial Control & Automation
The EP1C6T144I-7 fits industrial control applications because its 5,980 logic elements and 92,160 bits of embedded RAM can implement multiple protocol bridges (Modbus, RS-485, CAN glue logic) plus a soft CPU core such as Nios II on a single device. The industrial -40 °C to +100 °C temperature range covers factory-floor ambient conditions, and the 144-LQFP package is hand-solderable for prototyping. Two integrated PLLs provide deterministic clock generation for deterministic motor-control loops.
Recommended
Motor Control Front-End
For motor-control front-ends the EP1C6T144I-7 generates PWM signals with sub-microsecond resolution using its 320 MHz internal clock divided through the on-chip PLLs. The 92 Kbits of M4K RAM allow implementation of sine-lookup tables and field-weakening curves without external memory. With 98 user I/O pins the device can simultaneously drive three-phase PWM, capture encoder feedback, and interface an HMI display - all on the same 1.5 V core with the 144-LQFP package enabling 2-layer prototype PCBs.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Glue Logic
The EP1C6T144I-7 is well-suited to consumer glue logic because its 5,980 LEs can replace dozens of discrete 74-series logic ICs, shrinking BOMs and reducing PCB area. Typical designs integrate I2C/SPI bridges, LCD controllers, key-scan matrices, and audio sample-rate converters on one chip. The 144-LQFP hand-solderable package supports small production runs, and the 1.5 V core keeps power dissipation low. Lead-free N-suffix variants (EP1C6T144I7N) are mandatory for consumer products sold in RoHS jurisdictions.
Recommended
Embedded Video Processing
For embedded video applications the EP1C6T144I-7 implements ITU-R BT.656 capture pipelines, color-space converters (YCrCb to RGB), and on-screen-display overlays in a single FPGA. The 92 Kbits of M4K RAM serve as line buffers for de-interlacing and scaling, while the 320 MHz clock supports real-time processing of SD video (27 MHz pixel clock). With 98 user I/O the device can also drive an LCD panel directly, eliminating an external graphics controller IC for legacy CCTV and digital signage designs.
Recommended
Telecom Line-Card Glue Logic
Telecom line cards use the EP1C6T144I-7 for HDLC framing, E1/T1 transceiver interfaces, and time-slot switching across TDM buses. The two PLLs synthesize the 2.048 MHz E1 and 1.544 MHz T1 clocks from a single 8 kHz backplane reference, eliminating dedicated clock-generator ICs. The 92 Kbits of embedded RAM provide elastic stores for clock-rate adaptation, and the industrial temperature grade covers central-office and outside-plant enclosures. LVTTL/LVCMOS I/O standards interface directly to legacy framer ASICs.
Recommended
FPGA Education & Training Platforms
Educational labs and FPGA training kits use the EP1C6T144I-7 because the 144-LQFP package is hand-solderable, allowing students to assemble and rework development boards. 5,980 LEs is enough to teach combinational logic, sequential logic, finite state machines, soft CPU cores, and basic DSP all on one chip. The Cyclone family is supported by Quartus II Web Edition (free) which provides simulator, synthesizer, and programmer. Tutorials written for the Cyclone EP1C6 are still in circulation at most universities.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C6T144I-7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C6T144I7N | EP1C6T144C7N | EP1C6T144C8N | EP1C6Q240I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP (TQFP) | 144-LQFP (TQFP) - same | 144-LQFP (TQFP) - same | 144-LQFP (TQFP) - same | 240-PQFP - larger |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 |
| Maximum User I/O | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 185 |
| Speed Grade | -7 | -7 | -7 | -8 (slower) | -7 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial -40C to +100C | Industrial -40C to +100C | Commercial 0C to 85C | Commercial 0C to 85C | Industrial -40C to +100C |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-compliant (Pb) | Compliant (Pb-free) | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- RoHS lead-free drop-in replacement available (vs EP1C6T144I7N)
- Lower-cost commercial-temp option (vs EP1C6T144C7N)
- Higher I/O count available in same Cyclone family (vs EP1C6Q240I7N)
Design Notes
EP1C6T144I-7 requires a clean 1.5 V core (VCCINT) with a tolerance of ±5% (1.425 V - 1.575 V). Use a dedicated LDO regulator such as a TPS7A4533 or LT1761-1.5 to generate VCCINT from a 3.3 V or 5 V rail. The two PLL analog supply pins (VCCA_PLL1, VCCA_PLL2) must each be filtered with a ferrite bead and decoupled with 0.1 µF + 10 µF capacitors per the Cyclone datasheet typical application circuit. VCCIO for each I/O bank can be set independently to 1.5 V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, or 3.3 V for mixed-voltage interfacing.
Decoupling capacitor placement is critical for Cyclone FPGAs. Place one 0.1 µF ceramic capacitor per VCCINT pin within 100 mil (2.5 mm) of the pin, plus bulk 33 µF tantalum or 100 µF aluminum-polymer capacitors on the board for transient load handling. GND should use a continuous low-impedance plane; avoid split ground planes under the FPGA. JTAG signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) should be routed with 4-mil traces and a ground reference on the adjacent layer.
Although the 144-LQFP package has a relatively high thermal resistance (θJA ≈ 35 C/W), Cyclone EP1C6 typical quiescent current is only 250 mA at 1.5 V (≈ 0.4 W), so additional heatsinking is rarely required. Under full logic utilization at 320 MHz the device can draw up to 1 A (≈ 1.5 W). Estimated: at 1.5 W dissipation in still air the junction temperature rises about 52 C above ambient - within industrial 100 C limit. Forced-air cooling is recommended only in sealed enclosures.
Three common pitfalls: (1) EP1C6T144I-7 is lead-bearing - do not use it in RoHS-compliant products; choose EP1C6T144I7N instead. (2) Configuration Flash (EPCS1/EPCS4) must be programmed with .pof file generated by Quartus II - .sof files are RAM-only and lost on power cycle. (3) Original Cyclone is supported only by Quartus II versions up to 13.0; Quartus Prime 14.0+ removed device support. Retain the legacy toolchain or migrate to Cyclone IV E.
Compliance Information
EP1C6T144I-7 contains lead (Pb) and is not RoHS compliant; use EP1C6T144I7N for RoHS-compliant designs. REACH compliance and conflict-minerals status are based on Altera/Intel product declaration. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification is not available; for automotive use, migrate to AEC-Q100-qualified Cyclone III or later.
