A54SX16-CQ256 - SX FPGA 24K Gates 180 I/O CQFP-256 | Microsemi
MPN: A54SX16-CQ256 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for A54SX16-CQ256 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:
A54SX16-CQ256B
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16-1CQ256
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16-2CQ256
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16A-CQ256
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A54SX16-CQ256 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | SX (Actel/Microsemi SX family) |
| Programmable Type | In System Programmable (antifuse, OTP) |
| Estimated System Gates | 24000 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1452 |
| Number of I/O | 180 |
| Voltage - Supply (VCCI) | 3 V ~ 3.6 V |
| Voltage - Supply (programming/ring) | 4.75 V ~ 5.25 V |
| Architecture | Sea-of-modules, antifuse interconnect |
| Package / Case | 256-BFCQFP Exposed Pad and Tie Bar |
| Supplier Device Package | 256-CQFP (75x75) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration Memory | Antifuse (one-time programmable, non-volatile) |
| Programming Adapter | Silicon Sculptor SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 adapter module |
A54SX16-CQ256 256-cqfp (75x75) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for A54SX16-CQ256 (256-cqfp (75x75) 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 A54SX16-CQ256.
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
A54SX16-CQ256 is suitable for 6 applications: Aerospace and Defense Logic, Industrial Control and Automation, Communication Equipment State Machines, Bus Bridging and Glue Logic Consolidation, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Medical Device Control Logic.
Aerospace and Defense Logic
The A54SX16-CQ256 fits aerospace and defense processing platforms because its antifuse configuration is one-time programmable and cannot be read back or altered in flight, unlike SRAM-based FPGAs whose configuration stream is a known attack and SEU surface. With an estimated 24,000 gates, 1452 LABs, and 180 user I/Os, it consolidates glue logic, bus interfaces, and state machines that would otherwise occupy multiple MIL-qualified devices. The ceramic 256-BFCQFP (75x75) package with exposed pad and tie bar supports high-reliability solder attachment and thermal management in conduction-cooled assemblies. Typically placed between a processor and backplane interfaces with 3.0-3.6 V I/O supply rails, it adds no configuration PROM to the BOM, improving board-level reliability.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
In industrial controllers, the A54SX16-CQ256 implements deterministic sequencing, interlock logic, and parallel bus bridging where fixed, non-volatile configuration is preferred over reconfigurable SRAM fabrics. The sea-of-modules architecture delivers predictable timing across the 24,000-gate fabric, so safety interlocks and watchdog logic behave identically on every power-up without configuration loading delay. The 180 programmable I/Os interface PLC backplanes, encoders, and relay driver banks at 3.0-3.6 V levels, while the ceramic 256-CQFP package withstands vibration and temperature cycling better than plastic packages. Because the device is programmed once on a Silicon Sculptor (SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 adapter), production units are identical, simplifying factory acceptance testing and long-term field support.
Recommended
Communication Equipment State Machines
Telecom and datacom line cards use the A54SX16-CQ256 for framing logic, alarm aggregation, and backplane handshaking. The 180 user I/O pins address wide parallel buses such as legacy T1/E1 framers and backplane connectors, while the antifuse fabric guarantees that critical failover state machines are active immediately at power-up - no configuration time window exists during which the card is offline. Operating from the specified 3.0-3.6 V and 4.75-5.25 V supply ranges, the device slots into mixed 5 V/3.3 V legacy backplane environments. The one-time-programmable nature also protects carrier-grade firmware IP, since the bitstream physically cannot be extracted from the programmed antifuse network.
Recommended
Bus Bridging and Glue Logic Consolidation
The A54SX16-CQ256 is a classic glue-logic consolidator: with an estimated 24,000 gates and 180 I/Os it replaces dozens of 74-series devices, PALs, and CPLDs across processor-peripheral boundaries, cutting board area, assembly cost, and failure points. The fine-grained sea-of-modules architecture maps random combinatorial logic and address decoders efficiently, and the antifuse interconnect provides fixed, low-skew routing between I/O rings and internal modules. Because configuration is non-volatile, bridged buses are functional the instant supplies reach the 3.0-3.6 V operating window, which matters in systems where peripherals must be reachable by an early-boot processor. The 256-CQFP exposed-pad package simplifies rework and inspection on legacy production lines.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Instrument front ends and timing generators benefit from the A54SX16-CQ256's deterministic, configuration-free startup: counters, trigger arbiters, and scan controllers implemented in the antifuse fabric are live before any host configuration cycle completes. The 1452 LABs implement wide counters and comparators, while 180 I/O pins drive probe multiplexers, relay matrices, and backplane trigger buses in the 3.0-3.6 V domain. Ceramic CQFP packaging tolerates the thermal cycling typical of bench instruments with frequent power cycles. Once programmed via Silicon Sculptor with the SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 module, every instrument shipped contains bit-identical logic, which eases calibration traceability and regulatory documentation across long service lifetimes.
Recommended
Medical Device Control Logic
Diagnostic and monitoring equipment uses the A54SX16-CQ256 where predictable, immutable control logic supports regulatory validation. Because the antifuse configuration cannot silently change, a validated logic image remains validated for the service life of the device - there is no firmware-update surface in the FPGA itself. The 24,000-gate capacity covers motor sequencing for sample handling, sensor multiplexing across 180 I/O pins, and safety interlocks, with the ceramic 256-BFCQFP package providing mechanical robustness for portable and cart-based systems. Power design is straightforward: a 3.0-3.6 V I/O supply plus the specified 4.75-5.25 V rail, with no configuration PROM to monitor during power-on self-test.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A54SX16-CQ256 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A54SX16-CQ256B | A54SX16-1CQ256 | A54SX16-2CQ256 | A54SX16A-CQ256 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-BFCQFP Exposed Pad and Tie Bar (75x75) | 256-BFCQFP Exposed Pad and Tie Bar - same | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same | 256-CQFP - same |
| Brand | Microsemi (Microchip) | Microsemi (Microchip) | Microsemi (Microchip) | Microsemi (Microchip) | Microsemi (Microchip) |
| Estimated System Gates | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 |
| User I/O | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Logic Array Blocks | 1452 | 1452 | 1452 | 1452 | 1452 |
| Supply Voltage | 3 V ~ 3.6 V / 4.75 V ~ 5.25 V | 3 V ~ 3.6 V / 4.75 V ~ 5.25 V | 3 V ~ 3.6 V / 4.75 V ~ 5.25 V | 3 V ~ 3.6 V / 4.75 V ~ 5.25 V | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Speed Grade | Standard | Standard (B-suffix flow) | -1 (faster) | -2 (standard) | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Programming Adapter | SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 (Silicon Sculptor) | SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 - same | SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 - same | SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 - same | SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 - same |
Key Differentiators
- Standard flow availability from distributor stock (vs A54SX16-CQ256B)
- Faster timing closure at identical footprint (vs A54SX16-1CQ256)
- Ceramic package with exposed pad and tie bar (vs A54SX16-TQG176 (same die, plastic TQFP))
Design Notes
The A54SX16-CQ256 is one-time programmable: antifuse links are permanently blown during programming and cannot be erased. Never program a production unit directly from an unverified fuse file. Reserve a prototype device (or a -2 speed grade unit) for programming-trial runs, and complete gate-level simulation plus static timing analysis in Libero/Designer before committing. Microchip support also advises checking the latest SM208CQ-ACTEL-2 adapter module recommendation before each programming session, since adapter firmware revisions matter for CQ256 devices.
The device specifies two supply ranges: 3.0-3.6 V and 4.75-5.25 V per the Microsemi specification page. Map these rails to VCCI and the programming-related supply per the SX family datasheet pin tables, and ensure the 5 V rail is present during any in-system programming scenario. Because antifuse FPGAs draw essentially no static configuration current, decouple each rail with local 0.1 uF ceramics plus bulk capacitance at the board entry point; there is no configuration-PROM inrush to budget for, simplifying the power-up sequencing design.
The 256-BFCQFP has an exposed pad and tie bar that should be bonded to the PCB ground plane to meet the manufacturer's mechanical and electrical intent. Use a footprint with via-in-pad or perimeter vias under the pad for low-inductance grounding. With 180 user I/Os on a 75x75 mm ceramic body, maintain controlled-impedance routing on fast switching banks and stagger break-out traces to avoid necking between adjacent CQFP leads. Confirm land-pattern dimensions against the current Microchip package drawing rather than legacy Actel footprints.
Compliance Information
Ceramic hermetic CQFP packages on legacy Microsemi FPGAs historically use non-RoHS leaded lead finishes for high-reliability builds; RoHS/REACH status must be confirmed per order code on the Microchip product page before European-market shipment.
