EP2C20Q240C8N FPGA - Cyclone II 18K LE PQFP-240 | Altera
MPN: EP2C20Q240C8N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21.85 | $21.85 |
| 10 | $19.55 | $195.50 |
| 100 | $17.2 | $1,720.00 |
| 500 | $15.95 | $7,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $14.65 | $14,650.00 |
| 3,000 | $13.4 | $40,200.00 |
EP2C20Q240C8N Overview
An FPGA, or field-programmable gate array, is a programmable logic device whose internal logic blocks, routing resources, and I/O elements can be configured after manufacturing to implement arbitrary digital hardware. In the hierarchy of semiconductor logic, an FPGA belongs to programmable logic devices (PLDs), sitting above simple CPLD products and below custom ASICs in capacity and design flexibility. Cyclone II is Altera/Intel's low-cost FPGA family, optimized for cost-sensitive applications that need thousands of reconfigurable logic elements without the non-recurring engineering cost of a custom chip.
Key features of the EP2C20Q240C8N include 18,752 logic elements, 239,616 total RAM bits, and a commercial 0 °C to 85 °C operating range. The 240-pin PQFP package provides 142 user I/O pins, which is practical for moderate bus widths, control interfaces, and bridging applications. As a speed-grade -8 device, it targets main-stream cost-optimized designs rather than the fastest timing closure. The 1.2 V core voltage allows low dynamic power, while I/O banks support common single-ended standards such as LVCMOS and LVTTL.
The Cyclone II architecture is based on 4-input look-up-table logic elements grouped into logic array blocks, complemented by embedded memory blocks and dedicated clock networks. The 90 nm process and 1.2 V core helped make mid-density FPGAs affordable for industrial and communications equipment during Cyclone II's production life. The EP2C20Q240C8N is configured through SRAM cells, so it requires an external configuration device such as an EPC or EPCS serial device or a JTAG download cable at power-up.
Typical applications include industrial motor/motion control, image and video preprocessing, communication bridging, medical front-end processing, and digital-prototyping boards. In these systems, the EP2C20Q240C8N provides deterministic parallel processing and flexible I/O at a lower cost than a larger FPGA. Its QFP package also supports simpler PCB inspection and rework than fine-pitch BGA alternatives.
A critical design consideration is the need for clean 1.2 V core power, separate I/O bank voltages, and a proper configuration scheme chosen by the MSEL pins. Because this is a legacy FPGA family, new designs should verify device lifetime, configuration-device availability, and distributor stock before committing to production.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package drop-in alternatives, application guidance, and practical design notes not found in a simple parametric listing. It helps engineers make faster sourcing and migration decisions for legacy Cyclone II sockets.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C20Q240C8N — 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 EP2C20Q240C8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Logic Elements, Maximum Internal Frequency, Operating Temperature, Package Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C20Q240C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$46.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20Q240C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C20Q240I8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20Q240C7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C20Q240I8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C20Q240C8N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| FPGA Family | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements | 18752 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239616 |
| User I/O Pins | 142 |
| Package Type | 240-Pin PQFP (BFQFP) |
| Pin Count | 240 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Technology | 90 nm |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Speed Grade | 8 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 402.58 MHz |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) |
EP2C20Q240C8N 240-pin pqfp (bfqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C20Q240C8N (240-pin pqfp (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 EP2C20Q240C8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C20Q240C8N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video and Image Processing, Medical Diagnostic Front-End, Communication Protocol Bridging, FPGA Prototyping and Education, Digital Logic / Sensor Interface Accelerator.
Industrial Motor Control
EP2C20Q240C8N provides 18,752 logic elements and up to 142 I/O pins, enough to implement multi-axis PWM generation, quadrature encoder decoding, and soft-core motor-control state machines in one device. The 1.2 V core with separate I/O banks lets the FPGA operate encoder and valve logic at 3.3 V while keeping core power low. Because the 240-pin PQFP avoids BGA assembly, it is well suited to industrial control cards that need rework during prototype or small-series production. The -8 speed grade provides practical timing for control loops; if the loop needs extra margin, speed-grade -7 variants such as EP2C20Q240C7N are available in the same package.
Recommended
Video and Image Processing
Video pipelines that need capture, scaling, and output can use the EP2C20Q240C8N's 18,752 LEs and 142 user I/O pins to build line buffers, image filters, and pixel-format conversion logic. The 239,616 RAM bits become FIFO or delay-line storage for moderate-resolution line processing. The 142 pins are sufficient for an 8-bit parallel camera interface plus a display bus and control signals. Cyclone II I/O banks support LVCMOS/LVTTL level standards, simplifying connection to video ADCs and display controllers. For higher-resolution designs requiring wider buses, the 484-ball version of EP2C20 provides more user I/O but does not fit the Q240 footprint and would require a board change.
Recommended
Medical Diagnostic Front-End
Medical monitoring and diagnostic systems often need a reconfigurable device for sensor timing, data formatting, and communication functions. The EP2C20Q240C8N's 18,752 logic elements can host finite-impulse-response filters, clock-domain crossing logic, and simple scan controllers for ultrasound or pulse-oximeter front ends. Its 1.2 V core is well suited to mains-isolated low-power instruments. The standard commercial 0 °C to 85 °C range covers most clinical equipment used in temperature-controlled environments; when the device is placed near X-ray or MRI electronics, an industrial-temperature Cyclone II variant is safer. The PQFP package is inspectable with standard rework equipment used in medical service centers.
Recommended
Communication Protocol Bridging
As a protocol bridge, the EP2C20Q240C8N uses its 142 user I/O pins to connect UART, SPI, I2C, parallel, and simple serial buses while performing packet buffering and framing. Its 239,616 RAM bits can be arranged as FIFOs or small DMA buffers, and its 18,752 logic elements can implement state machines, protocol decoders, or CRC/checksum logic. The 1.2 V core is isolated from the I/O ring, allowing different I/O voltage domains without many external level shifters. The 240-pin PQFP package is practical for telecom line cards and industrial gateways that need a rework-friendly programmable fabric plus an external EPCS configuration memory for no-host start-up.
Recommended
FPGA Prototyping and Education
For university labs and early hardware prototypes, the EP2C20Q240C8N gives students and engineers 18,752 logic elements on a hand-solderable 240-pin PQFP, offering far more capacity than a CPLD. It supports the Quartus II design flow and standard JTAG or active-serial configuration; an EPCS serial device retains the bitstream. QFP packages are easy to inspect under a microscope compared with dense BGAs, making this device a reasonable educational FPGA for digital design courses. The commercial-temperature -8 grade is sufficient for most lab exercises; the part should not be operated beyond 85 °C in a poorly ventilated enclosure. A clean 1.2 V supply and correct I/O voltages must still be provided.
Recommended
Digital Logic / Sensor Interface Accelerator
Many sensor systems require preprocessing before a microcontroller can handle real-time data. The EP2C20Q240C8N can absorb parallel sensor streams, perform de-glitching, edge detection, and simple filtering, and reduce interrupt overhead by buffering results in FPGA RAM. The 142 I/O pins allow multiple SPI/parallel sensors to be connected without external muxes, while the 1.2 V core keeps switching power reasonable in portable enclosures. Because the part is configured at power-up by EPCS memory, it can behave as a deterministic hardware front end before firmware boots. This architecture is used in robotics, vending, and industrial sensing where a microcontroller alone cannot service many simultaneous event inputs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C20Q240C8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C20Q240C8 | EP2C20Q240C7N | EP2C20Q240I8N | EP2C20Q240C7 | EP2C20Q240I8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 240-Pin PQFP | 240-Pin PQFP | 240-Pin PQFP | 240-Pin PQFP | 240-Pin PQFP | 240-Pin PQFP |
| FPGA Family | Cyclone II | Cyclone II | Cyclone II | Cyclone II | Cyclone II | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements | 18752 | 18752 | 18752 | 18752 | 18752 | 18752 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 | 239616 |
| User I/O Pins | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Industrial -40 °C to 100 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Industrial -40 °C to 100 °C |
| Speed Grade | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N) | No (standard) | Yes (N) | Yes (N) | No (standard) | No (standard) |
Key Differentiators
- RoHS-oriented lead-free ordering option (vs EP2C20Q240C8)
- 240-pin QFP is easier to rework than BGA Cyclone II variants (vs EP2C20F484C8N)
- Multiple same-package temperature and speed variants exist (vs EP2C20Q240I8N)
Design Notes
EP2C20Q240C8N has a 1.2 V FPGA core supply (VCCINT), separate I/O supply voltages, and dedicated supply pins for configuration and clocking. Use a low-noise switching or LDO regulator capable of supporting the configured design's estimated core current, and filter the 1.2 V rail with bulk capacitors. Power supply sequencing should follow the Cyclone II requirement that VCCINT and VCCIO ramp without reverse voltage; common practice is to ramp core before I/O or simultaneously. In legacy production, use proven power supervisor ICs because FPGA I/O can power up in an indeterminate state if a supply is absent.
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor near every VCC and VCCIO pin group, with at least one 10 uF bulk capacitor per board side and additional capacitance near configuration pins. The 240-pin PQFP has a relatively large body, but lead inductance is still significant at high edge rates; each I/O bank should have a dedicated low-impedance path back to the ground plane. For rework-friendly QFP designs, expose vias around the device and follow the manufacturer's pad geometry for the BFQFP outline. A multilayer board with solid ground and separate power planes is strongly recommended for Cyclone II designs.
A common pitfall with Cyclone II designs is leaving configuration pins unconnected or selecting the wrong MSEL configuration scheme. The FPGA SRAM bitstream is volatile, so a serial configuration device (EPCS) or a JTAG download chain is mandatory. Tie dedicated configuration pins such as nCONFIG and nSTATUS according to the Cyclone II Handbook, and never float active-low control pins that cause continuous reconfiguration attempts. Also verify that the 1.2 V core is not powered from an I/O 3.3 V rail; reverse or overvoltage on VCCINT can permanently damage the 90 nm die.
Compliance Information
The N suffix in the Altera part number indicates a lead-free finish, and the part is commonly listed as RoHS compliant by distributors. Full REACH/halogen/conflict-minerals declarations were not present in the verified web data and should be requested from the supplier for formal compliance documentation.
