EP1C12Q240C7N - Cyclone 12,060 LEs FPGA 1.5V 240-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP1C12Q240C7N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $33.2 | $332.00 |
| 100 | $28.45 | $2,845.00 |
| 500 | $25.1 | $12,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $22.8 | $22,800.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C12Q240C7N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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View Datasheet →EP1C12Q240C7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone |
| Series | Cyclone I |
| Manufacturer | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Logic Elements | 12,060 |
| Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) | 12,060 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239,616 bits |
| Embedded Memory Blocks | 52 M4K blocks (4 Kbit each) |
| Maximum User I/O | 173 |
| Process Technology | 130 nm CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Internal Performance | 320.1 MHz |
| Speed Grade | C7 (commercial, -7) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Package | 240-pin PQFP / BFQFP |
| Package Body Size | 34.60 x 34.60 mm |
| Lead Pitch | 0.50 mm |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| PLLs | 2 (dual-clock) |
| Configuration Method | SRAM, serial/parallel via external flash |
EP1C12Q240C7N 34.60 x 34.60 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C12Q240C7N (34.60 x 34.60 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 EP1C12Q240C7N.
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
EP1C12Q240C7N is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Custom Peripheral Bridge for Microprocessor, Low-Cost Video Processing Pipeline, Communications Glue Logic and Protocol Converters, ASIC Prototyping and Design Validation, Test and Measurement Instrumentation Front-End, Legacy Parallel Bus Extension (PCI, VME, ISA).
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EP1C12Q240C7N's 12,060 logic elements and 173 user I/Os make it well-suited for industrial PLC-style controllers driving multiple stepper and servo motor channels. The Cyclone I fabric at 320 MHz internal frequency is sufficient for 50 kHz PWM loops on up to 32 axes, while the four I/O banks cleanly separate 24 V field wiring (via opto-isolators) from the 3.3 V logic domain. Compared to a microcontroller, this FPGA gives deterministic parallel execution without task-switching jitter, which is critical for tight multi-axis motion synchronization on factory floors.
Recommended
Custom Peripheral Bridge for Microprocessor
Embedded systems often need a glue-logic bridge between a host CPU and legacy or proprietary peripherals. The EP1C12Q240C7N's 52 M4K memory blocks (239 Kbit total) can implement FIFO buffers, register files, and DMA descriptor rings without external SRAM. With 173 I/Os available, a single Cyclone I device can simultaneously drive 8/16-bit SRAM/Flash buses, expose JTAG-controlled register windows to the host, and bit-bang custom SPI/I2C peripherals. The 320 MHz internal fabric comfortably absorbs any protocol translation overhead.
Recommended
Low-Cost Video Processing Pipeline
The EP1C12Q240C7N supports real-time video processing at up to XGA (1024x768) at 60 Hz through its embedded M4K memory blocks, which can be configured as line buffers or frame-delay FIFOs. The four I/O banks accept LVCMOS 24-bit RGB inputs and LVDS pairs via external resistors, making it suitable for digital signage, KVM switches, and industrial camera pre-processing. Designers typically implement de-interlacing, color space conversion, and on-screen display blending in fabric, freeing the downstream processor for higher-level analytics.
Recommended
Communications Glue Logic and Protocol Converters
The EP1C12Q240C7N is widely used as a multi-protocol bridge converting between UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and custom proprietary serial links. Its dual PLLs generate independent reference clocks for each protocol domain, while the 12,060 logic elements can host soft-cores (Nios II, custom state machines) for protocol parsing. The 130 nm process node keeps power dissipation below 0.5 W at full toggle rate, allowing fanless operation in sealed enclosures.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Design Validation
Before committing to a mask set, ASIC designers port RTL to the EP1C12Q240C7N for hardware-in-the-loop validation. The Cyclone I 130 nm fabric gives a reasonably faithful timing model for the synthesized netlist, and the 239 Kbit of SRAM approximates many ASIC memory compilers. The 240-PQFP package is easy to socket for benchtop characterization, and Quartus Prime's LogicLock regions make it straightforward to isolate and re-spin functional blocks without re-flowing the board.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation Front-End
The EP1C12Q240C7N's 173 user I/Os and 320 MHz fabric are valuable in benchtop instruments such as logic analyzers, protocol exercisers, and custom pattern generators. M4K memory blocks implement deep capture buffers, and the dual PLLs synchronize multiple sample-clock domains. The commercial temperature grade (0C to +85C) is sufficient for laboratory use, and the PQFP package is easy to rework during development cycles.
Recommended
Legacy Parallel Bus Extension (PCI, VME, ISA)
The EP1C12Q240C7N's abundant I/O count makes it ideal for legacy industrial buses that have no native support in modern microcontrollers. Designers use the Cyclone I fabric to implement PCI 32-bit/33 MHz target interfaces, VMEbus slave decoders, or ISA-style peripheral adapters for retrofitting old machinery. The 240-PQFP package exposes enough pins to break out 32 data, 24 address, and full control signals without multiplexing, simplifying timing closure.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C12Q240C7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C12Q240C6N | EP1C12Q240C8N | EP1C12Q240I7N | EP1C12Q240C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 240-PQFP | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Logic Elements | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 | 12,060 |
| Speed Grade | C7 | C6 (faster) | C8 (slower) | I7 (industrial temp, same speed) | C7 (same, tray packaging) |
| Temperature Range | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| User I/O | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 |
| Embedded RAM | 239,616 bits (52 M4K blocks) | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Wide I/O count in a hand-solderable PQFP package (vs EP1C12F256C8N (256-FBGA))
- Same die across C6/C7/C8 speed grades enables speed scaling without PCB redesign (vs EP1C12Q240C8N (C8 speed grade))
- Industrial temperature variant available in the same footprint (vs EP1C12Q240I7N (industrial temp))
Design Notes
The EP1C12Q240C7N requires three supply rails: 1.5 V VCCINT (core), 3.3 V or 2.5 V VCCIO (I/O banks, bank-by-bank configurable), and an optional 3.3 V VCC_PLL for the analog PLL sections. Estimated: at full toggle rate on 12,060 LEs with all 173 I/Os driving 10 pF loads, ICCINT reaches approximately 400-500 mA. Use a 4-layer PCB with a dedicated ground plane and place 0.1 uF + 0.01 uF ceramic decoupling caps within 5 mm of every VCC pin pair to keep core-rail noise below 50 mV pk-pk.
The 240-PQFP package has 0.5 mm lead pitch and a 34.6 x 34.6 mm body size, which is at the practical limit of hand-soldering. Plan for a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane beneath the device to provide a low-impedance return path for switching signals. All 173 user I/O pins should be routed on the top layer or near-surface microvias; long via stubs on high-speed I/O (>100 MHz) can cause impedance discontinuities that exceed Cyclone I timing margins.
Cyclone I FPGAs are SRAM-based and lose configuration when power is removed. A non-volatile configuration memory (EPCS4, EPCS16, or compatible third-party SPI flash) is mandatory. JTAG and AS configuration modes both require the MSEL[2:0] pins to be tied to specific levels per the datasheet; incorrect MSEL strapping is a common cause of first-board failures. Additionally, unused I/O pins should be configured as tri-stated inputs with weak pull-up to avoid floating inputs causing extra ICCCIO current.
Estimated: the 240-PQFP package has a theta_JA of approximately 25 C/W with a JEDEC JESD51 test board and no airflow. At a worst-case total power dissipation of 1.2 W (0.7 W core + 0.5 W I/O), the junction temperature rise above ambient is approximately 30 C. The commercial-grade part (0C to +85C) is safe up to 70 C ambient; for industrial deployments in enclosed cabinets above 70 C ambient, consider the EP1C12Q240I7N variant rated to +100 C.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Intel/Altera product documentation. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed in retrieved distributor data; please verify with manufacturer datasheet if required for your application. AEC-Q100 does not apply to commercial-grade FPGAs; choose automotive-screened variants for vehicle applications.
