EP20K160ETC144-2 FPGA - 160K Gate APEX 20KE | Altera
MPN: EP20K160ETC144-2 β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $135.02 | $135.02 |
| 10 | $131 | $1,310.00 |
| 100 | $124 | $12,400.00 |
| 500 | $118 | $59,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $112 | $112,000.00 |
EP20K160ETC144-2 Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit whose logic fabric can be programmed after manufacturing to implement arbitrary digital functions. APEX-20KE devices combine logic elements, embedded system blocks for memory and product-term functions, and programmable I/O in a hierarchical array, enabling designers to integrate board-level glue logic into one component. In the taxonomy of programmable logic, this device sits at FPGA > Programmable Logic Device > Integrated Circuit, and it is used where high reconfigurability and moderate pin count matter more than ASIC NRE.
Key features of this part include 6,400 logic elements for moderate-density logic, 81,920 RAM bits for FIFOs and register files, 88 user I/Os, and a 1.71 V to 1.89 V supply range. Distribution literature lists a 0.22 um CMOS process and 350 MHz-class operation. The APEX-20KE embedded system blocks can implement memory or product-term logic, providing flexibility beyond plain FPGA logic. The speed grade -2 is slower than -1X but is commonly supported by legacy design files and reference implementations.
Architecturally, EP20K160ETC144-2 builds logic from logic array blocks and embeds memory-oriented system blocks, connected by a hierarchical routing architecture. This lets the device realize 160K system gates without requiring an external RAM for every FIFO. The 20 x 20 mm TQFP package is surface-mount, compatible with 0.5 mm pitch PCB processes, and simpler to route than larger BGA alternatives. Because the part has no nonvolatile flash, it must be configured at power-up from an external EPC serial configuration device.
Typical applications include wired-communications line-card glue logic, industrial PLC I/O conversion, test-and-measurement front ends, and legacy aerospace repair programs where the original APEX-20KE firmware must remain unchanged. Its 88 I/Os and embedded RAM make it adequate for 16-bit parallel buses, UART/SPI interfaces, encoder counters, and custom timing state machines. For designs requiring more I/O, move to a larger APEX-20KE package such as 208-pin or 240-pin, but note that package and pin assignments change.
When using this component, pay attention to the 1.8 V core accuracy and the external configuration PROM. Because the EP20K160ETC144-2 is obsolete, check lifecycle and stock before starting a design; use the -2N lead-free variant when RoHS assembly is mandatory, and re-verify timing if selecting an X speed-bin alternative.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, package details, drop-in variants and practical notes that are not all present in a single manufacturer datasheet section. It is intended to help engineers sourcing the EP20K160ETC144-2 for repair, legacy extension, or aftermarket builds make faster, better-informed decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K160ETC144-2 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with EP20K160ETC144-2 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Logic Elements / Cells, Package / Case, Propagation Delay, Supplier Device Package.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K160ETC144-2N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$82 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP20K160ETC144-2X
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160ETC144-1X
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160ETC144-1
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160ETC144-3
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160ETC144-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX-20KE |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 6,400 cells |
| Total System Gates | 160,000 gates |
| RAM Bits | 81,920 bits |
| Number of User I/O | 88 pins |
| Core Supply Voltage Range | 1.71 V ~ 1.89 V |
| Nominal Core Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Package / Case | 144-LQFP |
| Supplier Device Package | 144-TQFP (20 x 20 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um CMOS |
| Propagation Delay | 1.93 ns |
| Maximum Device Performance Class | 350 MHz |
EP20K160ETC144-2 144-tqfp (20 x 20 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K160ETC144-2 (144-tqfp (20 x 20 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 EP20K160ETC144-2.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K160ETC144-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Wired Communications Line Card Bridging, Industrial Automation Glue Logic, Test and Measurement Data-Acquisition Co-Processing, Video and Image Acquisition Interface, Legacy Aerospace and Defense Repair, Medical Instrument Interface.
Wired Communications Line Card Bridging
The EP20K160ETC144-2's 6,400 logic elements and 81,920 RAM bits make it useful for protocol bridging on wired communications line cards where 88 user I/Os are enough for parallel buses. The FPGA can absorb address decode, packet FIFO flag generation, and UART/HDLC framing logic between legacy ASICs or backplane transceivers. Its 1.8 V core reduces switching power relative to older 3.3 V CPLDs, while the 144-pin TQFP permits a low-cost PCB. Because configuration is volatile, use an EPC2 or EPC4 configuration device; at power-up the FPGA loads from serial PROM before the line-card link is enabled. Designs should keep the 1.71 V to 1.89 V supply clean and verify that I/O standards accommodate the line-card ASIC levels.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Glue Logic
Field-programmable gate arrays such as the EP20K160ETC144-2 remain a convenient way to implement deterministic glue logic in industrial PLC input/output modules. The device provides 6,400 logic elements and 88 I/Os, enough to combine chip-select decoding, quadrature encoder counters, watchdog timers and serial peripheral interfaces on one 20 x 20 mm TQFP. Its 1.8 V core voltage, supported by the 1.71 V to 1.89 V range, reduces local heat generation in sealed industrial cabinets. A 16-bit parallel bus plus address and control lines can consume about 33 pins, leaving room for fault LEDs and handshake signals. An external configuration PROM such as EPC2 or EPC4 is mandatory, and for 24 V PLC backplanes add bus transceivers and provide isolation to the 3.3 V or 5 V I/O side.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Data-Acquisition Co-Processing
In test instrumentation, the EP20K160ETC144-2 can offload timing, triggering and data formatting duties from a host microcontroller or DSP. Its 81,920 RAM bits support small acquisition FIFOs and waveform lookup tables, while 6,400 logic elements implement trigger-state machines, measurement counters and bus protocol generators. The 88 user I/Os can connect to 8-bit or 16-bit ADCs, DACs, external SRAM and processor buses. Because the APEX-20KE core needs 1.8 V, use low-noise linear regulators around the FPGA; avoid noisy switching regulator ripple directly on VCC. The 144-TQFP package is board-friendly for instrument modules, but the lack of internal nonvolatile flash requires an EPC2 or EPC4 loader if the instrument needs autonomous startup.
Recommended
Video and Image Acquisition Interface
The EP20K160ETC144-2 can perform image-sensor timing, pixel clock generation and simple preprocessing for low-resolution video systems. With 88 I/O pins it can connect an 8-bit or 10-bit CMOS image sensor, external SDRAM address/data lines, and a host interface. The 81,920 RAM bits allow line buffers and small frame regions, while 6,400 logic elements are enough for Bayer pattern conversion routines, blanking generation and synchronization counters. The 144-pin TQFP makes routing simpler than BGA parts in compact camera modules. For higher resolutions or color-plane processing, consider a larger APEX-20KE or newer FPGA. Remember that the APEX 20KE is a 1.8 V device; I/O bank voltages must be selected carefully for the sensor and memory interface.
Recommended
Legacy Aerospace and Defense Repair
Defense and aerospace repair programs often require the exact original APEX-20KE FPGA because the PCB, configuration files and test fixtures were qualified years ago. The EP20K160ETC144-2 offers a pin-compatible path for maintaining those systems, with 6,400 logic elements, 160,000 system gates, 81,920 RAM bits and 88 I/Os. Its 1.8 V core and 144-pin TQFP match the original board design. When sourcing for military or high-reliability programs, verify date code, lot traceability and board-level inspection because manufacturer support for this family is obsolete. A limited lifetime buy can reduce supply-chain risk. Also check the temperature-grade suffix in the full part number because the C suffix indicates commercial temperature grade.
Recommended
Medical Instrument Interface
Medical devices with long product lifecycles sometimes use commodity FPGAs for peripheral interfacing and control logic. The EP20K160ETC144-2 can bridge sensor ADCs, stepper-motor controllers, user-interface buttons and display controllers in one device. Its 6,400 logic elements provide enough capacity for state machines and bus cycles, while 81,920 RAM bits can hold small calibration tables or transfer buffers. The 88 I/O count is adequate for a 16-bit system bus plus handshake signals. When legacy medical equipment needs board repair, using the same -2 speed grade avoids re-qualification. The device requires 1.8 V core power and an EPC configuration PROM; for medical safety compliance, verify isolation boundaries and supply reliability around the FPGA.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K160ETC144-2 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K160ETC144-2N | EP20K160ETC144-2X | EP20K160ETC144-1X | EP20K160ETC144-1 | EP20K160ETC144-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 144-LQFP/TQFP | 144-LQFP/TQFP - same | 144-LQFP/TQFP - same | 144-LQFP/TQFP - same | 144-LQFP/TQFP - same | 144-LQFP/TQFP - same |
| FPGA Family | APEX-20KE | APEX-20KE | APEX-20KE | APEX-20KE | APEX-20KE | APEX-20KE |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 |
| System Gates | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 |
| RAM Bits | 81,920 | 81,920 | 81,920 | 81,920 | 81,920 | 81,920 |
| User I/O Count | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Supply Voltage | 1.71 V - 1.89 V | 1.71 V - 1.89 V | 1.71 V - 1.89 V | 1.71 V - 1.89 V | 1.71 V - 1.89 V | 1.71 V - 1.89 V |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 | -2X | -1X | -1 | -3 |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Not indicated (non-N) | Lead-free N suffix | Not indicated | Not indicated | Not indicated | Not indicated |
Key Differentiators
- Non-N tin-lead availability for original board qualification (vs EP20K160ETC144-2N)
- Well-supported -2 speed grade for legacy timing closure (vs EP20K160ETC144-2X)
- 160K density with 6,400 logic elements in a 144-pin TQFP (vs Smaller APEX-20KE TQFP-144 parts)
Design Notes
The EP20K160ETC144-2 requires a clean 1.8 V nominal core supply within the 1.71 V to 1.89 V range. Use bulk capacitance around the FPGA, for example 10 uF per VCC supply group, and place 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors close to each VCC pin. The APEX-20KE also has separate VCCIO supplies for I/O banks; setting a bank to 3.3 V or 2.5 V does not change the core voltage. Keep the VCC and VCCIO planes separated on the PCB to prevent switching noise from coupling into the core.
The 144-pin TQFP/LQFP package is 20 x 20 mm with a nominal 0.5 mm pitch. Use a stencil aperture about 90% of the pad width to reduce solder-bridge risk on fine-pitch leads. Provide ground vias around the package, and keep JTAG and configuration pins, such as nCONFIG, DCLK and DATA0, clean by adding 10-33 ohm series resistors close to the FPGA. Avoid routing high-speed traces under the package unless the layer stack-up gives a solid reference plane.
Do not treat EP20K160ETC144-2 as a nonvolatile FPGA. If no external EPC configuration PROM is present, the device will not configure after power-up unless a host actively loads the bitstream through JTAG or passive serial mode. Also verify the temperature grade of your exact procurement part: the C suffix in APEX-20KE ordering typically indicates commercial temperature, not industrial or military. Because this device is obsolete, plan a lifetime buy or qualified alternate source for repair programs.
For a 144-pin TQFP without an exposed pad, heat is removed mainly through the leads and the PCB copper. If the device is used in a sealed enclosure, estimate the local temperature rise from core plus I/O power; a rough estimate is to multiply total FPGA power by the effective theta-JA of a TQFP-144, which is typically higher than a BGA. Add thermal vias and copper pours under the body if the design dissipates more than 1-2 W.
Compliance Information
The target EP20K160ETC144-2 has no N suffix; N-suffix versions are lead-free. RoHS/REACH statements were not present in the verified distributor snippets, so status is not confirmed.
