EPC144TC32N
EPC144TC32N - Enhanced Configuration Device, 32-pin TQFP | Intel (Altera)
The Intel (formerly Altera) EPC144TC32N is an Enhanced Configuration (EPC) device in a 32-pin TQFP package, used to configure SRAM-based LUT devices such as the FLEX 8000 and FLEX 10K FPGA families. The EPC1441 device stores 440,800 bits of configuration data in serial EEPROM and supports in-system programmability via IEEE Std 1149.1 (JTAG) boundary-scan test, enabling designers to program, verify, and re-program FPGAs on the board without removing the device.
An EPC (Enhanced Configuration) device is a serial-configuration memory that boots an SRAM-based FPGA at power-up. It sits on a dedicated serial configuration chain (typically 4- or 5-wire: nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, nCONFIG, DCLK, DATA0) and serially shifts the bitstream into the FPGA on every reset. EPC devices belong to the broader hierarchy of non-volatile configuration memory, distinct from parallel flash, microcontrollers, or CPLDs - they are specialized one-function parts optimized for low-cost, small-to-medium FPGA bitstream storage. The EPC1, EPC2, EPC4, EPC8, EPC16, EPC64 and EPC1441 form a density ladder from 1 Mbit to 16 Mbit.
Key features of the EPC144TC32N include 440,800-bit (approximately 440 Kbit / ~54 KB) storage, 3.3 V core supply, in-system programmability through JTAG (IEEE 1149.1), a 4-pin JTAG interface (TMS, TCK, TDI, TDO), and industrial operating temperature range. The TQFP-32 surface-mount package gives a low profile and supports standard reflow soldering. Unlike parallel flash memory, the EPC1441 outputs configuration data serially at the DCLK rate controlled by the FPGA, simplifying board layout.
Architecturally, the EPC144TC32N uses a serial EEPROM array with on-chip charge-pump for byte-write operations, an oscillator for internal timing, and a JTAG TAP controller for boundary-scan programming. The serial protocol is Altera-proprietary and designed so that the FPGA acts as the master during configuration - the EPC144TC32N does not arbitrate the bus. Programming voltage VPP is generated internally from VCC in normal mode, eliminating the need for an external 12 V supply.
Typical applications include configuring Altera (now Intel) FLEX 8000, FLEX 10K, ACEX 1K, APEX 20K, Mercury, and older APEX II FPGAs in production hardware, prototype boards, and industrial control systems. The EPC1441 is commonly paired with mid-density FPGAs requiring bitstreams between 50 KB and 130 KB. For higher-density FPGAs (Stratix, Cyclone, Arria, Agilex) Intel now recommends their second-generation EPCQ serial flash, which uses standard SPI and supports higher clock rates.
When designing with this device, ensure that the JTAG chain shares TDI/TDO with the FPGA in the proper order so the configuration device is accessible to the Quartus programmer. Decoupling (100 nF + 10 uF close to VCC and VPP pins) is required to keep the charge-pump stable during ISP. The EPC1441 supports both 3.3 V and 5 V tolerant I/O on the FPGA-facing pins, but VCC must remain within 3.0 V-3.6 V. Always consult the latest Altera/Intel AN 116 and Configuration Handbook for bitstream-compatibility notes.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
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