XC2C256-7VQ100I - CoolRunner-II CPLD 256 Macrocells | AMD Xilinx
MPN: XC2C256-7VQ100I ✓ ActiveXC2C256-7VQ100I Overview
A CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) is a class of programmable logic IC that sits between simple SPLDs such as GAL/PAL devices and full FPGAs in the programmable logic hierarchy. CPLDs implement user-defined combinational and sequential logic in a non-volatile, deterministic fabric: unlike SRAM FPGAs, a CoolRunner-II CPLD applies its configuration immediately at power-up with no configuration time or external configuration memory, which makes it a common glue-logic, bus-interface and power-up-control component in embedded systems.
Key features of the XC2C256 include a 1.8 V core supply for very low static power, a real-time reprogrammable function block architecture with 256 macrocells, dual output banks that can switch to two independently selected output voltage levels, and Schmitt-trigger capable inputs for noisy board environments. The -7 speed grade delivers a 6.7 ns pin-to-pin delay, enabling deterministic timing in control-path logic.
Architecturally, the CoolRunner-II family combines programmable function blocks with a low-power switching matrix. Each macrocell can be configured as combinational or registered logic, and the global routing matrix provides predictable, pin-to-pin timing across the device. Because the fabric is 1.8 V powered with I/O banks that support multiple standards, the device integrates cleanly into mixed-voltage boards.
Typical applications include address decoding and bus interfacing in industrial controllers, power-up sequencing and reset control, handheld and battery-operated equipment where standby power matters, and bridging between processors and peripherals in communication hardware.
Design consideration: budget the 1.8 V core rail separately from the I/O bank rails, and use the manufacturer datasheet pin-description table when assigning PCB tracks on the VQ100 footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in same-family alternatives, comparison tables, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for XC2C256-7VQ100I — 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 XC2C256-7VQ100I (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Macrocells, Speed Grade, Configuration Memory, Family.
XC2C256-7VQG100I
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
XC2C256-7VQG100C
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
XC2C256-7VQ100C
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →XC2C256-7VQ100I Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | CoolRunner-II CPLD |
| Macrocells | 256 |
| Speed Grade | -7 |
| Propagation Delay (pin to pin) | 6.7 ns |
| Maximum System Frequency | 152 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Package | 100-pin VQFP (VQ100), 14x14 mm |
| Mounting Style | SMD/SMT |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Output Banks | 2 (independently selectable output voltage levels) |
| Programmable Type | In-System Programmable, non-volatile configuration |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Product Category | CPLD - Complex Programmable Logic Device |
| Configuration at Power-Up | Immediate (no configuration memory required) |
| Manufacturer Part Status | Active |
XC2C256-7VQ100I 100-pin vqfp (vq100), 14x14 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for XC2C256-7VQ100I (100-pin vqfp (vq100), 14x14 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 XC2C256-7VQ100I.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
XC2C256-7VQ100I is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Glue Logic and Bus Interfacing, Power-Up Sequencing and Reset Control, Battery-Powered and Handheld Equipment, Communication Equipment Line Cards, Audio and Video System Control Logic, Legacy Board Redesign and Obsolescence Bridging.
Industrial Glue Logic and Bus Interfacing
The XC2C256-7VQ100I consolidates address decoding, chip-select generation, and bus handshake logic that would otherwise occupy many 74-series devices. Its 6.7 ns pin-to-pin delay keeps decode logic out of the critical timing path for microprocessor and FPGA buses, and its deterministic CPLD timing means pin-to-pin delays do not vary with routing choices the way FPGA timings can. The industrial temperature rating supports factory-floor controllers, PLC I/O cards and motor-control boards, while the two independently selectable I/O bank voltages let one device bridge a 3.3 V processor bus to 2.5 V or 1.8 V peripheral banks. With 256 macrocells, a full decode plus control-state function typically fits with margin, and the non-volatile configuration means the bus interface is active the instant power is applied - important for systems whose processors issue accesses during early boot.
Recommended
Power-Up Sequencing and Reset Control
Because the CoolRunner-II fabric is functional immediately at power-up with no configuration delay, the XC2C256-7VQ100I is a natural fit for power-good monitoring, reset generation, enable sequencing and supervisor logic around multi-rail systems. Its low 1.8 V core static current keeps the sequencing block from disturbing the power budget it is meant to protect, and Schmitt-trigger capable inputs allow direct connection to slowly ramping power-good signals without false triggering. Two output banks let the device drive reset lines at different logic levels for mixed-voltage processor domains. Designers typically implement power-up state machines, watchdog counters and brownout flags in the 256 macrocells, freeing the main MCU from supervisory duties. This role is common in industrial drives, communication line cards and battery-powered instruments that must guarantee a defined reset order at every cold start.
Recommended
Battery-Powered and Handheld Equipment
The CoolRunner-II family was explicitly designed by Xilinx for both high performance and low power, and that combination is exactly what battery-operated products need. The XC2C256-7VQ100I's 1.8 V core gives very low static current, so key-matrix scanning, interface translation and control glue can remain active in standby without measurably draining the battery. The 14x14 mm 100-pin VQFP footprint fits handheld and portable enclosures, and the immediate power-up configuration removes any boot delay when the user presses the power button. Typical functions in this domain include keypad encoding, display-interface bridging, LED control and level translation between a low-voltage processor and legacy 3.3 V peripherals. Compared with an SRAM FPGA solution, the CPLD adds no configuration current and no configuration memory part, saving both board area and standby energy.
Recommended
Communication Equipment Line Cards
High-end communication equipment was one of the two headline application classes named in the CoolRunner-II product documentation, and the XC2C256-7VQ100I serves it as backplane interface glue, hot-swap control, status multiplexing and LED/alarm logic on line cards. The 152 MHz system performance ceiling comfortably covers fast status and control signaling, while deterministic 6.7 ns pin-to-pin delays simplify backplane timing analysis across temperature and lot variation. The two selectable I/O bank voltages let one package service 3.3 V backplane signaling on one bank and lower-voltage local logic on the other, eliminating translators. Industrial temperature rating supports uncooled remote and outdoor equipment, and the non-volatile configuration ensures the card identifies itself to the shelf controller immediately on insertion, before any processor has booted - a frequent requirement for managed slot-based systems.
Recommended
Audio and Video System Control Logic
Audio and video boards accumulate small control functions - codec reset, mode selection, source switching, front-panel key scanning and level translation - that are cleanly consolidated into the XC2C256-7VQ100I. Its 1.8 V core keeps idle current low for consumer standby requirements, while deterministic timing supports tightly scheduled control signaling such as I2S clock gating and mode-change handshakes around devices like the CS4223 or PCM5122 audio codecs. The two independent I/O bank voltages are useful when front-panel circuitry runs at one level and the DSP/audio domain runs at another. Because the CPLD is reprogrammable in-system, product families can share one PCB and differentiate features by CPLD firmware, cutting SKU proliferation cost. Industrial grading also allows the same board to be reused in professional installed-audio environments that see wider ambient temperatures.
Recommended
Legacy Board Redesign and Obsolescence Bridging
When discontinued PAL/GAL, 22V10 or older CPLD devices disappear from the market, the XC2C256-7VQ100I is frequently used as a consolidation target: multiple aging PLDs are merged into one CoolRunner-II device during a footprint-refresh redesign. Its 256 macrocells absorb several ATF22V10-class devices with room for future features, and in-system reprogrammability lets engineers correct decode bugs without board respins. The VQ100 industrial grade keeps refurbished industrial equipment within its original temperature specifications, and non-volatile power-up behavior preserves the deterministic startup the original design relied on. Xecor's comparison of XC2C256 package options confirms the VQ100 variant as a standard density point in the family, which eases second-source and long-term planning for equipment that must stay in service for a decade or more.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for XC2C256-7VQ100I — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | XC2C256-7VQG100I | XC2C256-7VQG100C | XC2C256-7VQ100C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-pin VQFP (VQ100), 14x14 mm | 100-pin VQFP (VQ100) - same | 100-pin VQFP (VQ100) - same | 100-pin VQFP (VQ100) - same |
| Brand | AMD (Xilinx) | AMD (Xilinx) | AMD (Xilinx) | AMD (Xilinx) |
| Macrocells | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
| Speed Grade / Delay | -7 (6.7 ns pin to pin) | -7 (6.7 ns) | -7 (6.7 ns) | -7 (6.7 ns) |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Industrial - same | Commercial | Commercial |
| Lead-Free / RoHS Suffix | Standard order code (lead-free VQG variant available) | Lead-free (G suffix) | Lead-free (G suffix) | Standard order code |
| Configuration Behavior | Non-volatile, immediate at power-up | Non-volatile, immediate at power-up | Non-volatile, immediate at power-up | Non-volatile, immediate at power-up |
Key Differentiators
- Immediate power-up operation with no configuration memory (vs SRAM FPGAs (per AMD/Xilinx support guidance))
- Very low static power from a 1.8 V core (vs XC2C256-7TQG144C (same die, commercial grade))
- Dual selectable I/O bank voltages (vs Smaller XC2C128 VQ100 devices)
Design Notes
Budget the 1.8 V core rail as a dedicated, well-decoupled supply separate from the I/O bank rails. Place at least one 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor per power pin pair plus one bulk capacitor per bank close to the device. Because CoolRunner-II static current is very low, total power in battery designs is usually dominated by I/O switching, so limiting simultaneous output transitions and using the drive-strength options in the software further reduces dynamic current. Estimated: dynamic current scales with f x C x V^2 per output, so lowering bank voltages where possible cuts I/O power quadratically.
For the VQ100 (14x14 mm) footprint, use the exact land pattern from the manufacturer package drawing and verify pin-1 orientation against the silkscreen dot. Use the pin-description tables in the manufacturer datasheet when assigning PCB tracks, since I/O functions and I/O bank membership are user-configurable and differ from other CoolRunner-II packages such as the 144-pin TQFP. Route each I/O bank's VCCIO separately so the two banks can use different output voltage levels as intended, and do not tie the bank rails together unless both banks run at the same level.
Do not assume CoolRunner-II order codes are interchangeable by eye: the suffix encodes speed grade, package and temperature. The XC2C256-7VQ100I (industrial, VQ100) must not be substituted on the bill of materials with a commercial-grade XC2C256-7VQ100C in applications that see -40C operation. Also remember that unlike an FPGA, no configuration memory or boot source is needed - adding one wastes BOM cost and board area. Finally, design tool support for CoolRunner-II is provided by the Xilinx ISE toolchain; verify tool licensing availability before committing the architecture to a new program.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings (e.g. Lisleapex) mark this part ROHS. Lead-free ordering is available via the G-suffix variants (e.g. XC2C256-7VQG100I) in the same family. REACH and conflict-minerals statements should be confirmed from the manufacturer product page.
