EPM7256AETC144-10 - MAX 7000A 256-Macrocell CPLD, 10ns, TQFP-144 | Intel
MPN: EPM7256AETC144-10 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $69.23 | $69.23 |
| 10 | $60.5 | $605.00 |
| 100 | $48.2 | $4,820.00 |
| 500 | $38.95 | $19,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $31.4 | $31,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPM7256AETC144-10 — 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:
EPM7256AETC144-7
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPM7256AETC144-7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$29.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPM7256AETC144-10N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPM7128AETC144-10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPM7256AETC144-10 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 7000A |
| Series | EPM7256AE |
| Device Type | CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) |
| Macro Cells | 256 |
| Usable Gates | 5,000 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 36 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 16 |
| Pin-to-Pin Delay (tPD) | 10 ns |
| Maximum Operating Frequency (fMAX) | 95.2 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 3.3 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.3 V (5.0 V tolerant inputs on A-series) |
| Package | 144-pin TQFP (TQFP-144) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Programming Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) + Fast Passive Serial |
| Non-Volatile Memory | EEPROM-based |
EPM7256AETC144-10 144-pin tqfp (tqfp-144) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EPM7256AETC144-10 (144-pin tqfp (tqfp-144) 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 EPM7256AETC144-10.
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
EPM7256AETC144-10 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Bus Interface Bridging, Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation, Industrial Control Glue Logic, Telecom Line-Card Interface Logic, Test and Measurement Front-End, Power-Supply Sequencing and Supervisor.
Legacy Bus Interface Bridging
The EPM7256AETC144-10 is widely deployed as a bus-bridging device between legacy 8/16/32-bit microprocessors and modern peripherals. With 256 macrocells, 36 user I/Os, and a deterministic 10 ns tPD, it can glue an 8051 external bus to a parallel ADC, multiplex address/data lines on an ISA-style card, or assemble/deserialize custom protocols in a single device. The 3.3 V core tolerates 5 V inputs, which matches mixed-voltage industrial backplanes where 5 V CPUs coexist with 3.3 V peripherals. Compared with implementing the same logic in discrete 74-series gates, a single CPLD cuts board area by roughly 70 percent, eliminates fan-out bottlenecks, and provides field-upgradeable functionality through JTAG reprogramming.
Recommended
Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation
Address decoding for memory-mapped systems is a canonical MAX 7000A use case, and the 256 macrocells of the EPM7256AETC144-10 can generate up to ~30 chip-select signals from a 24-bit address bus with comfortable margin. The 10 ns tPD combined with the global interconnect network lets the CPLD sit between a CPU and a bank of SRAM, Flash, and peripherals, asserting the correct chip-select well within a 33 MHz (30 ns) memory cycle. The deterministic timing of a non-volatile CPLD outperforms software-decoded alternatives and avoids any boot-time race conditions because the decoding logic is active immediately at power-up, no firmware required.
Recommended
Industrial Control Glue Logic
Industrial PLCs and motor-drive controllers often need to replace tens of discrete 74HC/74LS packages with a single, deterministic, reprogrammable device. The EPM7256AETC144-10 in TQFP-144 provides 36 user I/Os at 10 ns tPD, more than enough to consolidate encoder decoding, watchdog timing, fault-logic aggregation, and PWM-muxing for a multi-axis stepper controller. The commercial 0C to +70C temperature range suits factory-floor enclosures, and the JTAG boundary-scan interface simplifies in-cabinet diagnostics. Compared with a small FPGA, the CPLD's zero-boot-time, EEPROM-backed configuration removes the need for an external boot PROM.
Recommended
Telecom Line-Card Interface Logic
In telecom line cards the EPM7256AETC144-10 historically served as the I/O-expansion and protocol-formatting device between network processors and SERDES framer ICs. Its 256 macrocells support HDLC framing, per-channel enable/disable gating, alarm aggregation, and clock-domain crossing in a single chip, while the 5 V-tolerant inputs simplify mixed-voltage interfacing to legacy line-interface units. The non-volatile EEPROM configuration guarantees that the line card boots into a known-good state even after a brownout, a critical reliability attribute in carrier-grade equipment. Drop-in migration to the -7 or -7N speed-grade variant preserves the PCB while improving timing margin.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Front-End
Bench instruments and ATE fixtures often need custom timing, pulse-stretching, and signal-routing logic that cannot be sourced from standard 74-series parts. The EPM7256AETC144-10 provides 256 macrocells of JTAG-reprogrammable logic with 10 ns deterministic delay, ideal for generating trigger patterns, multiplexing measurement channels, or implementing front-panel switch-debounce logic. The fast in-system programming of the EEPROM cell allows the same hardware to be re-tasked for different DUTs without changing the PCB. Compared with discrete gates, the CPLD reduces BOM count, eliminates wiring errors, and shortens development cycles.
Recommended
Power-Supply Sequencing and Supervisor
Multi-rail systems - FPGA-based boards, ATCA carrier cards, and high-availability servers - require deterministic power-up and power-down sequencing that firmware cannot always guarantee. The EPM7256AETC144-10 can monitor four to eight rail-good signals, enforce monotonic turn-on, and drive enable pins of DC-DC converters with its 36 I/Os. Its 10 ns propagation delay ensures <100 ns fault response, well within typical converter hold-up times. Because the configuration is EEPROM-backed, the sequencing logic is in place at the first microsecond of power application, eliminating firmware-boot races.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM7256AETC144-10 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM7256AETC144-7 | EPM7256AETC144-7N | EPM7256AETC144-10N | EPM7128AETC144-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | TQFP-144 | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) |
| Macrocells | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 128 (-50%) |
| tPD (pin-to-pin) | 10 ns | 7.5 ns (faster) | 7.5 ns (faster) | 10 ns | 10 ns |
| User I/Os | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | Unknown (legacy Altera) | Unknown | Yes (RoHS, N suffix) | Yes (RoHS, N suffix) | Unknown |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Higher logic density than the -128 alternative (vs EPM7128AETC144-10)
- Faster speed grade available in same package (vs EPM7256AETC144-7)
- RoHS-compliant variant exists with identical silicon (vs EPM7256AETC144-10N)
Design Notes
Decouple VCCINT (3.3 V core) and VCCIO (3.3 V I/O bank) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of each supply pin, plus a single 10 uF bulk capacitor per supply rail. The MAX 7000A 'AE' family draws substantially higher inrush current during in-system programming (ISP); budget at least 100 mA headroom on the 3.3 V regulator and ensure the supply can source peak currents of 200 mA without sagging below 3.0 V. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on nCONFIG and nSTATUS to guarantee proper power-on reset sequencing per the MAX 7000A handbook.
Route JTAG signals (TDI, TDO, TMS, TCK) as a daisy chain with 22 ohm series-termination resistors placed near the driver, keeping the chain short and away from switching power-supply nodes. The TQFP-144 package has a 0.5 mm pitch and exposed thermal pad; use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane under the device and stitch the thermal pad with at least nine thermal vias to the inner ground plane for adequate heat dissipation (estimated theta_JA of approximately 35 C/W on a JEDEC 4-layer test board).
Do not leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs driving ground or as inputs with the internal weak pull-up enabled, otherwise floating inputs can draw additional supply current and may cause intermittent supply-current spikes. When migrating from EPM7256AETC144-10 to EPM7256AETC144-7N for RoHS compliance, verify that your assembly house supports the lead-free reflow profile (peak 245 C to 260 C) and that the JTAG IDCODE register still matches the BSDL file for boundary-scan test - the IDCODE is identical across all 144-pin MAX 7000A TQFP devices but should be re-validated in production ATE.
For clock signals above 50 MHz on the EPM7256AETC144-10's global clock networks, keep clock traces short (<25 mm), use 50 ohm controlled impedance, and avoid splitting the ground plane beneath the clock path. The MAX 7000A global interconnect skew is typically +/- 1 ns; for designs with multiple clock domains, place clock buffers near the center of each I/O bank to minimize skew across the 36 I/O pins.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the verified web data; the EPM7256AETC144-10N suffix variant is widely described as lead-free / RoHS, but the base -10 part's status is [DATA_NEEDED]. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for a commercial-temperature CPLD.
