EPM3256ATC44-7 - MAX 3000A CPLD, 256 Macro, 7.5ns | Altera
MPN: EPM3256ATC44-7 β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.2 | $11.20 |
| 10 | $10.05 | $100.50 |
| 100 | $9 | $900.00 |
| 500 | $8.74 | $4,370.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.478 | $8,478.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPM3256ATC44-7 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPM3256ATC44-10
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPM3256ATC44-12
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPM3128ATC44-10
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPM3128ATC44-7
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPM3064ATC44-10
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.35 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM3256ATC44-7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 3000A |
| Device Type | CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) |
| Macro Cells | 256 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 |
| Package | TQFP-44 |
| Pin-to-Pin Propagation Delay (tPD) | 7.5 ns |
| Maximum Internal Frequency (fCNT) | 175.4 MHz (family rating) |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 3.3 V |
| I/O Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.3 V (5.0 V-tolerant input) |
| Process Technology | 0.30 Β΅m CMOS EEPROM |
| In-System Programmability | 3.3 V ISP via IEEE 1149.1 JTAG |
| Operating Temperature (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C |
| Non-volatile Configuration | Yes (EEPROM) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Lead-free) |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
EPM3256ATC44-7 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 2 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 3 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 4 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 5 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 6 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 7 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 8 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 9 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 10 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 11 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 12 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 13 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 14 | TDI β JTAG Test Data In |
| Pin 15 | TMS β JTAG Test Mode Select |
| Pin 16 | TCK β JTAG Test Clock |
| Pin 17 | nSTATUS β Configuration status (open-drain) |
| Pin 18 | nCONFIG β Configuration control input |
| Pin 19 | VCCINT β 3.3 V core supply |
| Pin 20 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 21 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 22 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 23 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 24 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 25 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 26 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 27 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 28 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 29 | VCCIO β 3.3 V I/O supply (5 V-tolerant inputs) |
| Pin 30 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 31 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 32 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 33 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 34 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 35 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 36 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 37 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 38 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 39 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 40 | VCCINT β 3.3 V core supply |
| Pin 41 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 42 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
| Pin 43 | TDO β JTAG Test Data Out |
| Pin 44 | I/O β User I/O (macro cell pin) |
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
EPM3256ATC44-7 is suitable for 7 applications: Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation, 5 V to 3.3 V Bus Voltage Translation and Bridging, Microcontroller GPIO Expansion, Industrial Glue Logic and State Machines, Legacy Peripheral Bus Adapters (ISA, PC/104, STD-32), Telecom Line Card Control Logic, Test Equipment Front-End Multiplexing.
Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation
The EPM3256ATC44-7 is widely used as a single-chip address decoder in legacy microprocessor systems (68k, x86, PowerPC) where multiple peripherals share a memory or I/O map. With 256 macro cells it can decode complex multi-level address windows and generate individual chip-select strobes with the deterministic 7.5 ns tPD that CPLDs uniquely offer. The JTAG ISP lets board designers iterate on the decode map without desoldering the device, and the EEPROM-backed configuration boots into a known state at power-up with no external configuration memory.
Recommended
5 V to 3.3 V Bus Voltage Translation and Bridging
The EPM3256ATC44-7's multiVolt I/O - 5.0 V-tolerant inputs with 3.3 V VCCIO outputs - makes it a natural level shifter between legacy 5 V peripherals and modern 3.3 V ASICs, microcontrollers, or processors. Its 256 macro cells easily implement 8, 16, or 32-bit bidirectional bus switches with direction-control logic. The deterministic 7.5 ns propagation delay preserves bus timing margins; an FPGA would introduce variable routing delays that complicate worst-case timing closure. Engineers commonly use this part as a glue-logic translator in mixed-voltage industrial backplanes.
Recommended
Microcontroller GPIO Expansion
When a microcontroller runs out of GPIO pins, the EPM3256ATC44-7 can be added as a non-volatile I/O expander communicating over SPI, I2C, or a parallel bus. Its 256 macro cells implement shift registers, debouncers, PWM generators, and quadrature decoders offloading the microcontroller. The 7.5 ns tPD supports high-speed pulse trains (e.g. stepper motor step pulses, LED multiplexing refresh), and the 5 V-tolerant inputs interface directly with industrial 24 V optocoupled signals after external resistor dividers.
Recommended
Industrial Glue Logic and State Machines
The deterministic timing and non-volatile configuration of the EPM3256ATC44-7 suit industrial control boards where the device must power up into a known safe state and execute predictable state machines for machine sequencing, conveyor control, or interlocks. The 256 macro cells host multi-state FSMs with timing-critical transitions, and the JTAG boundary scan supports manufacturing test of the populated board. Industrial designers rely on the EEPROM configuration to retain logic across power cycles without external boot memory.
Recommended
Legacy Peripheral Bus Adapters (ISA, PC/104, STD-32)
The EPM3256ATC44-7 is commonly used to build adapters for legacy 8-bit and 16-bit ISA, PC/104, or STD-32 peripheral cards. Its 7.5 ns tPD is comfortably inside the ISA bus cycle timing, and its 256 macro cells implement the address latch, data transceiver control, and I/O/memory decode in a single chip. Designers preserve legacy CPU/motherboard compatibility while consolidating multiple 74-series glue-logic packages into one programmable device, reducing board area and assembly cost.
Recommended
Telecom Line Card Control Logic
In telecom line cards (T1/E1, ISDN, xDSL front-ends), the EPM3256ATC44-7 implements framing, alarm monitoring, and timeslot assignment logic with the deterministic timing required by telecom standards. Its non-volatile configuration survives the warm reboots and power glitches common in central-office environments, and its 5 V-tolerant I/Os interface to legacy telecom ASICs. The 7.5 ns tPD comfortably supports the 1.544 MHz T1 and 2.048 MHz E1 bit rates plus the supervisory scan frequencies used in line-card housekeeping loops.
Recommended
Test Equipment Front-End Multiplexing
Bench and production test instruments (logic analyzers, oscilloscope front-ends, ATE pin-electronics cards) use the EPM3256ATC44-7 to multiplex measurement channels, route stimulus signals, and sequence test patterns. The 7.5 ns propagation delay preserves edge fidelity in 100 MHz-class test paths, and the JTAG interface allows the test sequencer to be reconfigured via test scripts without opening the instrument. The non-volatile EEPROM configuration remembers the last test setup across power cycles, simplifying calibration routines.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM3256ATC44-7 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM3256ATC44-10 | EPM3256ATC44-12 | EPM3128ATC44-10 | EPM3128ATC44-7 | EPM3064ATC44-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) |
| Package | TQFP-44 | TQFP-44 - same | TQFP-44 - same | TQFP-44 - same | TQFP-44 - same | TQFP-44 - same |
| Macro Cells | 256 | 256 | 256 | 128 (-50%) | 128 (-50%) | 64 (-75%) |
| Pin-to-Pin Delay (tPD) | 7.5 ns | 10 ns (slower) | 12 ns (slower) | 10 ns (slower) | 7.5 ns (matches) | 10 ns (slower) |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| In-System Programmability | 3.3 V JTAG ISP | 3.3 V JTAG ISP | 3.3 V JTAG ISP | 3.3 V JTAG ISP | 3.3 V JTAG ISP | 3.3 V JTAG ISP |
| Operating Temperature (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
| Reference Price @ 100 pcs (USD) | 9.00 | approx. $8.50 | approx. $7.80 | approx. $7.20 | approx. $7.50 | approx. $6.10 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest logic density in the MAX 3000A TQFP-44 family (vs EPM3128ATC44-10)
- Fastest 7.5 ns tPD speed grade in TQFP-44 (vs EPM3256ATC44-10)
- Non-volatile EEPROM configuration (vs SRAM-based FPGA alternatives)
Design Notes
The EPM3256ATC44-7 requires two separate 3.3 V supplies: VCCINT (pin 19 and 40) for the core logic and VCCIO (pin 29) for the I/O bank. Per the MAX 3000A datasheet, VCCINT and VCCIO may be tied to the same 3.3 V rail if 5 V tolerance is not needed; if you require 5 V input tolerance, VCCIO must remain at 3.3 V while VCCINT can be a separately filtered 3.3 V. Decouple each VCC pin with a 0.1 Β΅F X7R ceramic placed within 5 mm of the pin, and add a 10 Β΅F bulk tantalum or ceramic at the board entry.
Place the EPM3256ATC44-7 TQFP-44 footprint with the exposed thermal pad not bonded (the 44-pin TQFP does not have an exposed pad). Per the MAX 3000A datasheet, route JTAG signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) as a 4-wire daisy-chain with 10 kΞ© pull-ups on TMS and TDI, and a 10 kΞ© pull-up on nCONFIG. Keep JTAG traces away from clock edges longer than 25 mm to avoid reflection; add a 22 Ξ© series terminator on TDO if the JTAG chain length exceeds 100 mm.
Do NOT apply 5 V to any I/O pin unless VCCIO is at 3.3 V AND the input is within the 5 V-tolerant specification (VCCIO + 2.0 V max). The EPM3256ATC44-7 is NOT a 5 V device - it is a 3.3 V device with 5 V-tolerant inputs only. Applying 5 V with VCCIO = 0 V will latch up and likely destroy the part. Always power VCCIO before applying any input signal. Note also that open-drain outputs require external pull-up resistors; the part does not include internal pull-ups on I/O pins.
For high-speed designs (>50 MHz outputs), enable the Quartus slew-rate control set to 'Slow' on long-trace outputs to reduce ground bounce. Per the MAX 3000A datasheet, the device has 24 mA drive strength per I/O, but driving more than 8 outputs simultaneously switching at full slew rate can inject 0.5 V or more of ground-bounce noise into the GND pins. Distribute switching outputs across multiple GND pins (7, 12, 23, 33) and use a solid ground plane under the TQFP-44 footprint.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant lead-free TQFP-44 package per Altera product declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial/commercial only); not recommended for new automotive designs. Halogen-free status not stated in available data.
