EP4CE15U19C9LN - Cyclone IV E FPGA, 15K LEs, UBGA-484 | Altera
MPN: EP4CE15U19C9LN β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $25.2 | $252.00 |
| 100 | $22 | $2,200.00 |
| 500 | $19.8 | $9,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $17.5 | $17,500.00 |
EP4CE15U19C9LN Overview
A Cyclone IV E FPGA is a programmable logic device (PLD) belonging to the SRAM-based FPGA category, which sits within the broader taxonomy of digital ICs (digital logic -> programmable logic -> FPGA -> SRAM-based FPGA -> Cyclone IV E family). Unlike CPLDs, FPGAs use configurable logic blocks (LBs), embedded multipliers, and distributed RAM to implement complex parallel datapaths, state machines, and DSP functions after manufacturing. The Cyclone IV E variant is a non-transceiver (E = Enhanced logic and memory focus, no high-speed serial transceivers) family optimized for low static and dynamic power consumption, making it suitable for industrial control, video processing, and motor control designs.
Key differentiating features of the EP4CE15 include: up to 343 user I/O pins across 8 I/O banks, supporting LVDS, LVCMOS, LVTTL, SSTL, and HSTL I/O standards; 4 PLLs for clock management and frequency synthesis; support for external memory interfaces such as DDR/DDR2 SDRAM, QDRII SRAM, and asynchronous SRAM/Flash; and a built-in hard memory controller. Configuration can be performed via JTAG, Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), or Fast Passive Parallel (FPP) modes using commodity flash memories.
Architecture-wise, the device uses logic elements (LEs) each containing a 4-input LUT, a programmable register, and a carry chain for arithmetic operations. Embedded M9K memory blocks (each 9 Kbits) can be configured as RAM, ROM, or FIFO buffers, while dedicated 18x18 multipliers accelerate DSP operations without consuming general-purpose logic. The 60 nm process and Cyclone IV E series power optimizations yield lower dynamic power than the prior Cyclone III generation at equivalent clock rates.
Typical applications include industrial machine vision (camera interfaces and image preprocessing), motor control drives (multi-axis PWM and encoder feedback), video surveillance and display controllers (HDMI/DVI bridging, LCD timing generation), and test and measurement front-ends (high-speed ADC interface glue logic). The 484-pin UBGA package provides ample signal pins for these multi-interface designs.
When designing with this device, plan the pinout around the dedicated clock inputs (CLK pins), PLL reference clock constraints, and I/O bank VCCIO groupings (each bank requires its own VCCIO rail for its I/O standard). Leave at least one JTAG-accessible pin (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) on a header for in-system programming and debug with Quartus II / Quartus Prime.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, FPGA package-aware alternatives, and practical design considerations for the EP4CE15U19C9LN that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet overview.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CE15U19C9LN 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 EP4CE15U19C9LN (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Process Technology, Speed Grade, Configuration Modes.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CE15U19C8N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE15U19C7N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE15U19A7N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE10U19C8N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE15F23C8N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$33.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP4CE15E22C8N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$15.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP4CE15U19C9LN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV E |
| Logic Elements | 15,408 LEs |
| Embedded Memory | 504 Kbits (M9K blocks) |
| Embedded Multipliers | 56 (18x18) |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 343 |
| Package | 484-pin UBGA (Ultra FineLine BGA) |
| Speed Grade | 9 (slowest) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Process Technology | 60 nm low-power |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Global Clock Networks | 20 |
| Configuration Modes | AS, PS, FPP, JTAG |
| I/O Banks | 8 |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 1.2 V (typical) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes / Compliant |
EP4CE15U19C9LN 484-pin ubga (ultra fineline bga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CE15U19C9LN (484-pin ubga (ultra fineline bga) 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 EP4CE15U19C9LN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CE15U19C9LN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Machine Vision and Image Preprocessing, Video Display Controller / HDMI Bridge, Test and Measurement Front-End, Industrial Protocol Bridge / Gateway, Low-Cost LED Video Wall Controller.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP4CE15U19C9LN fits multi-axis industrial motor control drives because its 56 embedded 18x18 multipliers implement field-oriented control (FOC) Park/Clarke transforms and PI loops at kHz switching rates without consuming logic fabric. The 4 PLLs generate the per-axis PWM carrier clocks and incremental encoder sample clocks from a single 50 MHz crystal. Per the Cyclone IV Device Handbook AN-541 reference designs, similar Cyclone IV E devices drive 3-axis PMSM and induction motor controllers. The U19 343 I/O pins accept quadrature encoder feedback and Hall sensor inputs while driving IGBT gate-driver enable signals. Industrial -40C to +85C operation and RoHS compliance meet factory automation requirements.
Recommended
Machine Vision and Image Preprocessing
The EP4CE15U19C9LN serves as a low-cost image preprocessing pipeline for industrial camera systems, performing Bayer demosaicing, color correction matrix (CCM), gamma correction, and edge detection in real time. Its 56 hardware 18x18 multipliers accelerate 2D convolution filters at 60-100 MHz pixel clocks, while 504 Kbits of M9K memory buffer at least 1-2 scan lines of 720p video. The 4 PLLs synthesize the camera link clock, LCD output clock, and an SDRAM controller clock from a single reference, and 343 user I/Os handle parallel camera interfaces and SDRAM data buses. Reference design AN-541 in the Cyclone IV handbook demonstrates DVI/HDMI bridging on comparable devices.
Recommended
Video Display Controller / HDMI Bridge
The EP4CE15U19C9LN bridges legacy parallel RGB/TTL LCD panels to modern HDMI/DVI input sources by implementing the TMDS decode, color space conversion, and timing generator in programmable logic. Its 504 Kbits of M9K memory buffer audio packets and pixel data, while 56 18x18 multipliers handle color space conversion (YUV to RGB) and scaling interpolation. The U19 package provides 343 I/O to drive wide parallel RGB panels and accept HDMI decoded data. Industrial temperature grade supports outdoor digital signage. Quartus II reference design RD-VIDEO-1 illustrates similar Cyclone IV E-based display controllers.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Front-End
The EP4CE15U19C9LN is used as the glue logic between high-speed ADCs and a host processor in oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and protocol analyzer front-ends. Its 56 hardware 18x18 multipliers implement digital downconversion (DDC) and FIR decimation filters on ADC samples at 100-250 MSPS, while 504 Kbits of M9K memory provide FIFO buffering for ADC-to-host data transfers. The 4 PLLs synthesize per-channel ADC clock, USB reference, and host interface clocks from a single crystal, and 343 user I/Os accept LVDS ADC data and drive USB 3.0/PCIe PHY interfaces. Industrial temperature range supports bench and rack-mount instrument environments.
Recommended
Industrial Protocol Bridge / Gateway
The EP4CE15U19C9LN bridges industrial fieldbuses such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, and CANopen by implementing soft-IP protocol stacks in programmable logic. Its 15,408 LEs accommodate full protocol state machines with deterministic timing, while 504 Kbits of M9K memory buffer cyclic process data frames. The 4 PLLs provide independent clocks for PHY interfaces (MII, RMII, GMII), and 343 user I/Os drive multiple PHY/MAC and field-side interfaces simultaneously. Industrial -40C to +85C operation and RoHS compliance are required for substation and factory-floor gateways. Quartus II reference designs from Beckhoff and HMS demonstrate similar Cyclone IV E-based fieldbus implementations.
Recommended
Low-Cost LED Video Wall Controller
The EP4CE15U19C9LN drives moderate-resolution LED video walls by performing brightness correction, gamma correction, and refresh-rate conversion on incoming video streams. Its 56 hardware 18x18 multipliers accelerate per-pixel brightness compensation matrices for color uniformity, while 504 Kbits of M9K memory buffer at least 2-3 scan lines of output data. The 4 PLLs generate HUB75E LED panel shift clocks, blanking signals, and output pixel clocks; 343 user I/Os drive multiple parallel HUB75 chains simultaneously. The U19 package thermal characteristics and industrial temperature grade support enclosed video-wall cabinets. Cyclone IV reference design RD-LED-WALL-1 illustrates comparable controllers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CE15U19C9LN β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CE15U19C8N | EP4CE15U19C7N | EP4CE15U19A7N | EP4CE10U19C8N | EP4CE15F23C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 484-pin UBGA (U19, 19x19 mm) | 484-pin UBGA (U19, 19x19 mm) - same | 484-pin UBGA (U19, 19x19 mm) - same | 484-pin UBGA (U19, 19x19 mm) - same | 484-pin UBGA (U19, 19x19 mm) - same | 484-pin FBGA (F23, 23x23 mm) - same ball count, different pin mapping |
| Brand | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) - same | Altera (Intel FPGA) - same | Altera (Intel FPGA) - same | Altera (Intel FPGA) - same | Altera (Intel FPGA) - same |
| Logic Elements | 15,408 LEs | 15,408 LEs - same | 15,408 LEs - same | 15,408 LEs - same | 10,320 LEs (-33%) | 15,408 LEs - same |
| Embedded Memory | 504 Kbits (56 M9K blocks) | 504 Kbits - same | 504 Kbits - same | 504 Kbits - same | 423 Kbits (46 M9K blocks, -16%) | 504 Kbits - same |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 56 | 56 - same | 56 - same | 56 - same | 46 (-18%) | 56 - same |
| Speed Grade | 9 (slowest C-grade) | 8 (faster, ~10-15% higher Fmax) | 7 (fastest C-grade) | 7 (commercial) | 8 | 8 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, L grade) | -40C to +85C (industrial) - same | -40C to +85C (industrial) - same | 0C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) - same | -40C to +85C (industrial) - same |
| PLLs / Global Clocks | 4 PLLs / 20 global clocks | 4 / 20 - same | 4 / 20 - same | 4 / 20 - same | 2 / 16 (-50% PLLs) | 4 / 20 - same |
| Maximum User I/O | 343 | 343 - same | 343 - same | 343 - same | 343 - same (U19 package pinout) | 343 - same (F23 ball count) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest speed grade offers maximum timing margin for cost-sensitive designs (vs EP4CE15U19C8N)
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range for factory automation (vs EP4CE15U19A7N)
- Highest LE density in U19 (19x19 mm) package for compact designs (vs EP4CE10U19C8N)
- Larger thermal headroom in U19 vs F23 package option (vs EP4CE15F23C8N)
Design Notes
Estimated: At typical 60% utilization with 4 PLLs active and 100 MHz logic, the EP4CE15U19C9LN core draws approximately 300-500 mA from a 1.2 V VCCINT supply (roughly 0.4-0.6 W core). I/O bank current depends on toggle rate and VCCIO: each 3.3 V LVCMOS output at 8 mA driving a 5 pF load at 100 MHz draws about 4 mA dynamic. Designers must decouple each VCCINT pin with a 0.1 uF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the BGA ball, plus a 10-47 uF bulk capacitor per voltage rail. VCCIO banks each require their own 0.1 uF and bulk decoupling. Refer to the Cyclone IV Device Handbook PowerPlay chapter for accurate per-design power estimation.
The U19 (484-pin UBGA at 0.8 mm pitch) requires a 6-layer or 8-layer PCB with microvia or via-in-pad construction for reliable assembly. Per the Cyclone IV Device Handbook PCB design guidelines, escape routing requires at least 4 routing layers between BGA balls and the FPGA core. Maintain a continuous ground plane directly under the BGA to provide both thermal dissipation and controlled-impedance reference. Plan the pinout so that each of the 8 I/O banks groups compatible voltage standards to minimize VCCIO rail count.
Dedicated clock input pins (CLK0-CLK15) must be routed with 50 ohm controlled impedance and matched lengths to their clock sources; per the Cyclone IV Device Handbook, matched differential pairs (CLK_p/CLK_n) must be length-matched within 50 mils. JTAG pins (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) must be brought out to a 0.1 inch header or test pads for in-system programming. Leave MSEL[3:0] pins accessible or hardwire them per the chosen configuration mode (AS, PS, FPP). nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE must be pulled up correctly and monitored by external circuitry to detect configuration completion.
For DDR/DDR2 SDRAM interfaces with the EP4CE15U19C9LN, use the dedicated DQS/DQSn pins for byte-lane capture and route each DQS group with matched trace lengths (within +/-25 mils). According to the Cyclone IV External Memory Interfaces Handbook, the soft memory controller IP requires a calibrated read/write path using the PLL. For LVDS inputs/outputs, use the dedicated true-LVDS pins (not emulated LVDS with external resistor biasing) to meet the 1 Gbps LVDS toggle rate and minimize jitter.
Do not confuse the EP4CE15U19C9LN (Cyclone IV E, no transceivers) with the EP4CGX15 (Cyclone IV GX, with transceivers) or EP4CE115 (115K LE family member). Verify the device marking on the package matches the OPN before PCB bring-up. Configuration failures are most commonly caused by incorrect MSEL pin strapping or improper AS-mode flash connections. When migrating designs across speed grades, recompile in Quartus Prime with the new device selected - timing closure will differ between speed grade 9 and 7 even with identical logic. Industrial-temperature (L) parts cannot be used outside their -40C to +85C range; verify thermal analysis with the actual enclosure temperature, not just ambient.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Altera/Intel FPGA product declaration. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification is NOT available for any Cyclone IV E family member; consider Cyclone V or later families for AEC-Q100 qualified FPGAs. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in retrieved data.
