EP1C6Q240I6N - Cyclone FPGA, 5980 LE, 185 I/O | Altera
MPN: EP1C6Q240I6N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.75 | $167.50 |
| 100 | $14.2 | $1,420.00 |
| 500 | $12.4 | $6,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.9 | $10,900.00 |
| 3,000 | $9.85 | $29,550.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C6Q240I6N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1C6Q240I6
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP1C6Q240I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →EP1C6Q240C6N
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View Datasheet →EP1C6Q240C7N
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$28.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6Q240C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6Q240I6N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| FPGA Family | Cyclone |
| Number of Logic Elements | 5980 |
| Total RAM Bits | 92160 |
| User I/O Pins | 185 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 405.2 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Process Technology | 130 nm |
| Package Type | 240-Pin PQFP (BFQFP) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40°C to +100°C |
| Configuration Type | SRAM-based FPGA |
| Lead-Free / RoHS Finish | Yes, N suffix |
| Speed Grade | -6 (I6) |
EP1C6Q240I6N 240-pin pqfp (bfqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C6Q240I6N (240-pin pqfp (bfqfp) package) with 185 pins. 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 EP1C6Q240I6N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 185 pins (digital package)
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
EP1C6Q240I6N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Communication Protocol Bridging, Video and Display Interface Processing, Medical Equipment Front-End Logic, Transportation and Test Systems, IoT and Sensor Data Aggregation.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP1C6Q240I6N suits industrial motor control because its 5,980 logic elements can implement encoder decoding, PWM timing, and fault logic on one device. It has 185 user I/O pins, allowing direct connection to multiple position sensors, isolated gate-driver interfaces, and operator panel inputs without a large external CPLD. The 1.5 V core and 92,160 RAM bits keep buffering tasks local. In a typical variable-speed drive, the FPGA is programmed to generate complementary PWM signals and monitor overcurrent flags, while a host CPU handles the control loop. Designers should isolate FPGA I/O from the high-voltage power stage and add proper power-supply decoupling for the 1.5 V core. Because the part is SRAM-based, an EPCS configuration memory should be connected to the MSEL pins for automatic power-up configuration.
Recommended
Communication Protocol Bridging
For communication infrastructure, the EP1C6Q240I6N can bridge parallel and serial buses because it provides 185 user I/O pins and runs up to 405.2 MHz internally. The 92,160 RAM bits are useful for buffering packets, FIFO synchronization, and small protocol state tables. The industrial temperature range lets it operate in uncontrolled telecom cabinets, while the 1.5 V core keeps switching power reasonable for a 130 nm FPGA. A typical design receives UART, SPI, or parallel data, processes framing in logic elements, and retransmits on a second interface. Since the FPGA is SRAM-based, the configuration bitstream should be held in an Altera EPCS serial configuration device or loaded by a processor at power-up. Keep all I/O banks at the correct VCCIO voltage to match attached transceivers.
Recommended
Video and Display Interface Processing
In video and display systems, the EP1C6Q240I6N can perform line buffering, timing generation, and simple pixel processing before data reaches a display ASIC or scaler. Its 92,160 RAM bits are enough for several 8-bit video lines, and the 185 I/O pins can connect to CMOS image sensors, TTL display interfaces, and memory controllers. The 1.5 V core and 130 nm process allow moderate clock rates for standard-definition and low-resolution high-definition video. A typical application captures parallel RGB or BT.656 data, stores line data in FPGA RAM, and inserts blanking or test patterns. The industrial temperature rating extends usability to security cameras and outdoor displays. Designers should terminate fast pixel clocks and use series resistors close to the FPGA outputs to reduce ringing on the flat ribbon or PCB traces.
Recommended
Medical Equipment Front-End Logic
Medical patient-monitoring and diagnostic equipment often needs deterministic digital logic for sensor control, data capture, and alarm routing. The EP1C6Q240I6N can replace multiple small logic devices because 5,980 logic elements are available for filtering, serialization, and interface timing. Its 185 I/O pins allow connection to analog-front-end ADCs, isolated communication interfaces, and operator displays. The -40°C to +100°C rating is useful for portable or semi-rugged medical instruments that experience broad storage temperatures. In an ultrasound or vital-signs front end, the FPGA can manage acquisition timing and transfer samples to a DSP or host processor. Because medical designs require predictable configuration, use an EPCS configuration memory with checksum or reload logic, and confirm that all system-level EMC testing includes the FPGA power rails.
Recommended
Transportation and Test Systems
Transportation electronics and automated test equipment use the EP1C6Q240I6N for pattern generation, sensor evaluation, and interfacing multiple unit-under-test signals. The FPGA's 185 I/O pins can create parallel data patterns and read back response lines, while 92,160 RAM bits store short test vectors. The 405.2 MHz internal capability supports high-speed digital pattern timing at moderate resolution, and the industrial temperature range suits dynamometer cells, vehicle test benches, and outdoor telemetry. In a typical test board, the FPGA sits between a host PC interface and several custom connectors, generating clocks, address strobes, and data waveforms. The 1.5 V core should be supplied by a low-noise regulator, and each I/O bank's VCCIO should match the DUT logic family to avoid level mismatch.
Recommended
IoT and Sensor Data Aggregation
For IoT edge gateways and sensor aggregators, the EP1C6Q240I6N can perform protocol preprocessing before data reaches an embedded processor. Its 5,980 logic elements handle simple state machines and serial decoding, while 185 I/O pins read multiple digital sensors, quadrature encoders, or switch matrices. The 92,160 RAM bits buffer bursts of sensor data and smooth asynchronous interfaces. The 1.5 V core 130 nm architecture is not as low-power as modern MCU-based designs, so it is best suited to powered gateways rather than coin-cell nodes. A typical application receives RS-485, SPI, and discrete I/O signals, time-stamps them in FPGA logic, and delivers clean packets to a host processor. The industrial temperature range enables installation in utility cabinets and outdoor enclosures where daily thermal swings are large.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C6Q240I6N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C6Q240I6 | EP1C6Q240I7N | EP1C6Q240C6N | EP1C6Q240C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera Corporation | Altera Corporation | Altera Corporation | Altera Corporation | Altera Corporation |
| Package | PQFP-240 | PQFP-240 - same | PQFP-240 - same | PQFP-240 - same | PQFP-240 - same |
| Logic Elements | 5980 | 5980 | 5980 | 5980 | 5980 |
| RAM Bits | 92160 | 92160 | 92160 | 92160 | 92160 |
| User I/O Pins | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| Speed Grade | -6 (I6N) | -6 | -7 | -6 | -8 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial -40°C to +100°C | Industrial -40°C to +100°C | Industrial -40°C to +100°C | Commercial | Commercial |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 405.2 MHz | 405.2 MHz | Not specified in retrieved data | Not specified in retrieved data | Not specified in retrieved data |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free N finish while preserving the exact industrial I6 speed grade (vs EP1C6Q240I6)
- Fastest industrial speed grade available in the Cyclone Q240 device (vs EP1C6Q240I7N)
- Industrial temperature range allows outdoor and unheated equipment use (vs EP1C6Q240C6N)
- Same Q240 footprint as commercial variants for reuse of layout (vs EP1C6Q240C8N)
Design Notes
The EP1C6Q240I6N core runs at 1.5 V and is a 130 nm SRAM FPGA, so transient current during configuration and normal operation must be supplied locally. Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor as close as possible to each VCCINT and VCCIO pin, plus 10 uF bulk capacitance per major power rail. Estimated decoupling should follow the general FPGA rule of one low-ESL ceramic per supply pin plus bulk electrolytic or tantalum near the board input connector. The leadless? This package is a PQFP with leads, so all supply current enters through the side leads; avoid routing all VCC pins through a thin shared trace.
Because the Cyclone FPGA is SRAM-based, the EP1C6Q240I6N must be configured after every power-up. Use an Altera EPCS serial configuration device connected to the dedicated DATA, DCLK, nCS, and ASD0 pins, and set the MSEL pins for the chosen configuration mode. If a microcontroller configures the FPGA, make sure its I/O voltage is compatible with the FPGA VCCIO for the configuration bank. Ensure that nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE are pulled correctly so the device can enter user mode only after successful configuration.
The industrial range is -40°C to +100°C for the EP1C6Q240I6N. The PQFP-240 package has no exposed thermal pad, so heat is removed primarily through package leads and PCB copper. For high toggle rate designs, estimate junction temperature using the device theta-JA from the manufacturer datasheet. If ambient in an enclosure can exceed 70°C, provide forced airflow or reduce I/O switching activity to keep internal junction temperature within the data sheet limit. This note is an estimated thermal design guideline, not a datasheet value.
Compliance Information
The 'N' suffix in Altera's ordering code denotes lead-free/RoHS-compliant finish. No explicit REACH, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals declarations were found in the retrieved web data.
