EP1C6Q240C6N Cyclone FPGA 185 I/O 240-Pin | Intel
MPN: EP1C6Q240C6N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $36.42 | $36.42 |
| 10 | $35.14 | $351.40 |
| 100 | $33.28 | $3,328.00 |
| 500 | $31.65 | $15,825.00 |
| 1,000 | $29.9 | $29,900.00 |
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View Datasheet →EP1C6Q240C6N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| FPGA Family | Cyclone® I |
| Number of Logic Elements | 5,980 |
| Number of LABs | 598 |
| Number of M4K RAM Blocks | 20 |
| Total RAM Bits | 92,160 |
| Number of PLLs | 2 |
| Number of User I/Os | 185 |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.5 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | 1.5 V to 3.3 V (multi-standard) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0°C to 85°C (commercial grade) |
| Speed Grade | -6 |
| Package / Case | 240-BFQFP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration Type | SRAM-based (requires external configuration) |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | Lead-free (N suffix) |
EP1C6Q240C6N 240-bfqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C6Q240C6N (240-bfqfp 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 EP1C6Q240C6N.
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
EP1C6Q240C6N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control and PLC I/O, Test and Measurement Instrument Interface, Video Capture and Image Preprocessing, Communication Bus Bridging and Protocol Glue, Medical Monitoring and Diagnostic Front End, FPGA Prototyping and Digital Logic Education.
Industrial Motor Control and PLC I/O
The EP1C6Q240C6N fits motor-control and PLC designs because its 185 user I/Os can capture encoder quadrature signals, control H-bridge gate logic, and interface with optocoupler input modules at the same time. The 5,980 logic elements provide enough resources to implement multiple PID controllers, a state-machine sequencer, and diagnostic counters. With VCCIO support from 1.5 V to 3.3 V, the FPGA can directly connect to industrial 3.3 V transceivers and sensor boards. The -6 speed grade reduces combinational loop delay, allowing faster current-loop rates in motor drives. Placing the FPGA between a microcontroller and power-stage interface creates deterministic timing not possible with software-only processing. A practical consideration is power dissipation: at a moderate 60% logic utilization and 50 MHz system clock, the core current is design-dependent, so a small regulator sized for 1.5 V FPGA current is required. Configuration from an EPCS4 device ensures the PLC starts running automatically after power-up.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrument Interface
In test equipment, the EP1C6Q240C6N can act as a flexible digital pattern generator, logic analyzer front end, or data acquisition controller. The 185 usable I/Os are sufficient to capture parallel ADCs, drive DACs, or monitor multiple digital buses. Embedded RAM blocks allow small FIFOs to buffer incoming samples before transferring them to a host processor. The two PLLs support precise clock synthesis for sampling clocks and for phase-adjusted digital outputs. Because the commercial temperature range is 0°C to 85°C, the device is appropriate for benchtop instruments and production test fixtures. A practical design note is to keep all high-speed I/O adjacent to the respective FPGA I/O bank with appropriate Schmitt triggers for clean signal capture. The EP1C6Q240C6N can be reprogrammed for different instrument personalities, avoiding expensive ASIC spins when test requirements evolve.
Recommended
Video Capture and Image Preprocessing
For video capture systems, the Cyclone I EP1C6Q240C6N can receive parallel video data from CMOS image sensors or video decoders, perform simple filtering, downsizing, or windowing, and output processed pixels to a display controller or DSP. The 92,160 RAM bits provide line buffers for 720p or smaller resolutions, while 5,980 logic elements can implement FIR filters, edge detectors, or color-space conversion. The -6 speed grade helps meet pixel-clock timing for standard-definition and some high-definition formats. Because video processing often uses 3.3 V and 2.5 V domains, the multi-voltage I/O capability is a strong fit. Engineers should ensure the two PLLs are assigned to pixel clock generation and memory interface timing. A small serial configuration device is sufficient because the logic image is usually under 1 Mbit. This device is best for deterministic frame-level preprocessing before compression or transmission.
Recommended
Communication Bus Bridging and Protocol Glue
The EP1C6Q240C6N is suited for bridging parallel processor buses to serial interfaces or for custom protocol translation between UART, SPI, and local parallel buses. Its 185 I/Os allow it to buffer an address/data bus while simultaneously generating chip selects, interrupts, and handshake signals. The logic fabric can implement FIFOs, protocol state machines, and simple packet parsing at moderate throughput. The 1.5 V core and multi-voltage I/O allow connection to legacy 3.3 V peripherals and newer 1.8 V logic without external level translators. When bridging asynchronous buses, designers should consider cross-clock domain synchronization in FPGA logic because the interface may run at different frequencies. The PLLs can generate a clean internal clock for the bridge state machine. Distinguishing this FPGA-based bridge from an MCU is the ability to provide genuine parallel access with deterministic latency and zero software overhead.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring and Diagnostic Front End
Medical monitoring devices often need to scan multiple sensor channels, compute simple metrics, and communicate with an application processor. The EP1C6Q240C6N can implement a multichannel acquisition front end with counter/timer functions for pulse oximetry, temperature, and pressure sensors. Its low logic count is not intended for complex image reconstruction, but it excels at deterministic real-time control and I/O expansion. The commercial temperature range covers most clinical environments, and the lead-free package supports medical equipment environmental requirements. Designers should isolate sensitive analog circuits from FPGA digital switching noise by placing the FPGA on a separate supply domain with proper decoupling. Since FPGA firmware can be updated, medical algorithms can change without hardware redesign. However, any memory or data path must be carefully synchronized with the host processor to avoid intermittent bus contention. The FPGA is best used for data acquisition and control rather than heavy-duty DSP.
Recommended
FPGA Prototyping and Digital Logic Education
The PQFP package of the EP1C6Q240C6N is easier to hand-solder and debug than small-pitch BGAs, making it a good choice for FPGA prototyping boards and university digital design labs. The 5,980 logic elements can implement simple RISC processors, keypad scanners, VGA timing generators, and peripheral interfaces. With 185 I/Os, students can wire many LEDs, switches, and seven-segment displays without complex multiplexing. The 240-pin QFP footprint is supported by many low-cost breakout boards and breadboard adapters. The free Intel/Altera Quartus development environment supports compiling and downloading designs to this device using a USB-Blaster or JTAG adapter. Because Cyclone I silicon is SRAM-based, each power cycle requires configuration; educational boards typically include an EPCS configuration device so designs are loaded automatically. The relatively large package makes probing with oscilloscope hooks practical for learning signal integrity fundamentals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C6Q240C6N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C6Q240C6 | EP1C6Q240C7N | EP1C6Q240C8N | EP1C6Q240I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera |
| Package | 240-BFQFP | 240-BFQFP - same | 240-BFQFP - same | 240-BFQFP - same | 240-BFQFP - same |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 | 5,980 |
| Total RAM Bits | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 |
| User I/Os | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 |
| Speed Grade | -6 | -6 | -7 | -8 | -7 |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 85°C | 0°C to 85°C | 0°C to 85°C | 0°C to 85°C | -40°C to 100°C |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (N suffix) | No (tin-lead) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest -6 commercial speed grade in the Cyclone I Q240 family (vs EP1C6Q240C8N)
- Lead-free RoHS-compliant N suffix (vs EP1C6Q240C6)
- 240-pin PQFP is easier to prototype and inspect than BGA (vs EP1C6F256C6N)
Design Notes
The EP1C6Q240C6N requires a clean 1.5 V VCCINT supply and one or more VCCIO supplies (1.5 V to 3.3 V). Estimated core current depends strongly on logic utilization and clock frequency; for an initial 5,980-LE design with 50 MHz activity and 60% toggle, budget at least 150–300 mA on VCCINT and verify using the Intel/Altera Cyclone power calculator. Use a low-dropout regulator for noise-sensitive analog systems or a switching regulator for larger designs. Decouple VCCINT and each VCCIO bank with a 10 µF bulk capacitor and multiple 0.1 µF ceramic capacitors at the package pins.
Place decoupling capacitors close to the FPGA power pins on a solid ground plane. The 240-pin PQFP has 0.5 mm pitch leads; ensure the PCB footprint follows the JEDEC-compliant dimensions in the Cyclone family data sheet. For high-speed I/O signals, keep their trace lengths matched and avoid routing directly over a split plane. If using an EPCS configuration device, place it within a few centimeters of the FPGA to keep configuration clock signals clean. Use a standard 10-pin JTAG header for programming and debug.
Because Cyclone I is SRAM-based, the EP1C6Q240C6N loses its configuration when power is removed. A common pitfall is forgetting to connect a configuration device or to configure it from JTAG on every power-up. Also remember that the core supply is 1.5 V, not 3.3 V; applying 3.3 V to VCCINT can destroy the device. When changing speed grades between -6 and -7/-8, rerun timing analysis because achieved Fmax will change. Finally, confirm the actual pinout from the Cyclone pin table before layout because this 240-pin footprint is unique to Altera Cyclone I.
Compliance Information
The N suffix indicates lead-free packaging; this is generally accepted as RoHS-compliant. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status were not explicitly stated in the provided web data and remain unverified.
