EP610IDC-10 - 16-Macrocell Classic EPLD, 10ns, CDIP-24 | Altera
MPN: EP610IDC-10 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $15.75 | $157.50 |
| 100 | $12.4 | $1,240.00 |
| 500 | $10.1 | $5,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.85 | $8,850.00 |
EP610IDC-10 Overview
A Classic EPLD is a non-volatile programmable logic device that combines the density of a small PLD with the speed and pin-count flexibility of early FPGAs. It sits within the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLD), between simple PAL/GAL arrays and full FPGAs. EPLDs use a sum-of-products architecture with user-programmable AND/OR planes and a fixed, deterministic interconnect, which makes them ideal for fast control logic, address decoding, and state machines where predictable timing is more important than raw gate density.
Key features of the EP610IDC-10 include 16 macrocells, 4 dedicated inputs plus 20 I/O pins, an on-chip programmable interconnect, support for 100% TTL emulation, and an integrated test circuitry that allows AC specification verification during production. The device is in-system programmable via the Altera MAX+PLUS II development environment and supports JTAG-style boundary-scan testing on selected package variants.
The Classic architecture is macrocell-based: each macrocell contains a programmable flip-flop, configurable I/O, and shared product-term logic that feeds the AND/OR array. Compared with one-time-programmable (OTP) PALs, the EP610IDC-10 is windowed ceramic and therefore erasable with UV light, making it suitable for development and low-volume prototyping rather than high-volume production.
Typical applications include high-speed address decoding for 8086/80286-era microprocessor systems, bus interface logic, glue logic in industrial controllers, state machines for instrumentation, and 5V TTL glue-logic replacement. Designers also use Classic EPLDs to consolidate multiple discrete 74LS/74F logic packages into a single programmable device for legacy system refresh.
A key design consideration is the 5V supply requirement: the EP610IDC-10 is not 5V-tolerant in a mixed-voltage system, so any 3.3V signals must be level-shifted. The CDIP-24 ceramic windowed package requires a UV eraser socket for reprogramming, so production volumes should migrate to the plastic OTP (one-time-programmable) EP610PC-10 variant.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers evaluate EPLD alternatives for legacy design maintenance and obsolescence avoidance.
Drop-in alternatives for EP610IDC-10 — 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 EP610IDC-10 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Technology, Mounting Type, Propagation Delay (tPD).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP610DC-10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610IDC-15
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610IDC-25
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP610DC-15
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DC-25
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DC-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610IDC-10 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | Altera Classic EPLD |
| Logic Capacity | 300 usable gates |
| Macrocell Count | 16 macrocells |
| Pin-to-Pin Logic Delay (tpd) | 10 ns |
| Maximum Counter Frequency (fCNT) | 100 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 5 V (nominal) |
| I/O Logic Compatibility | 100% TTL emulation |
| Technology | CMOS, UV-erasable (windowed ceramic) |
| Package Type | 24-pin Ceramic DIP (CDIP) |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| I/O Pins | 20 |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) |
| Programmable Interconnect | Yes (on-chip) |
| In-System Programmability | Yes (via MAX+PLUS II) |
| Boundary-Scan Test | Yes (per device documentation) |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole |
EP610IDC-10 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O0 — Input/Output pin 0 |
| Pin 2 | I/O1 — Input/Output pin 1 |
| Pin 3 | I/O2 — Input/Output pin 2 |
| Pin 4 | I/O3 — Input/Output pin 3 |
| Pin 5 | I/O4 — Input/Output pin 4 |
| Pin 6 | IN0 — Dedicated input 0 |
| Pin 7 | IN1 — Dedicated input 1 |
| Pin 8 | IN2 — Dedicated input 2 |
| Pin 9 | IN3 — Dedicated input 3 |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | I/O5 — Input/Output pin 5 |
| Pin 12 | I/O6 — Input/Output pin 6 |
| Pin 13 | I/O7 — Input/Output pin 7 |
| Pin 14 | I/O8 — Input/Output pin 8 |
| Pin 15 | I/O9 — Input/Output pin 9 |
| Pin 16 | I/O10 — Input/Output pin 10 |
| Pin 17 | I/O11 — Input/Output pin 11 |
| Pin 18 | I/O12 — Input/Output pin 12 |
| Pin 19 | I/O13 — Input/Output pin 13 |
| Pin 20 | I/O14 — Input/Output pin 14 |
| Pin 21 | I/O15 — Input/Output pin 15 |
| Pin 22 | I/O16 — Input/Output pin 16 |
| Pin 23 | I/O17 — Input/Output pin 17 |
| Pin 24 | VCC — 5V supply voltage |
Typical Applications
EP610IDC-10 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Microprocessor Address Decoding, Industrial 5V Glue Logic Consolidation, Vintage Instrumentation State Machines, Bus Interface Logic Adapters, Telecommunications Control Logic, Military/Aerospace Avionics (Legacy Systems).
Legacy Microprocessor Address Decoding
The EP610IDC-10 is ideally suited for legacy 8086/80286/80386 microprocessor address decoding where the 10 ns pin-to-pin delay comfortably meets 25-33 MHz bus timing with zero wait states. Its 16 macrocells and 4 dedicated inputs are well-matched to a full 24-bit address decode plus chip-select generation. Per the Altera Classic datasheet, the device can replace multiple 74LS138/74F139 decoder packages with a single programmable device, saving board area while improving noise immunity.
Recommended
Industrial 5V Glue Logic Consolidation
Industrial control systems using 5V TTL logic benefit from the EP610IDC-10's ability to replace 4-8 discrete 74LS/74F logic packages with a single programmable device. The 5V nominal supply matches existing 5V rails without level shifting, and the 100% TTL emulation guarantees compatibility with 74LS, 74AS, and 74F logic families. The 300-gate capacity fits typical glue-logic blocks such as interrupt controllers, handshaking sequencers, and watchdog logic in PLCs and CNC controllers.
Recommended
Vintage Instrumentation State Machines
The deterministic macrocell architecture of the EP610IDC-10 is well-suited to state-machine designs in laboratory and test instrumentation where predictable timing matters more than absolute gate count. The 100 MHz counter frequency supports high-speed sequence generators, frequency counters, and pattern generators. The ceramic windowed CDIP package allows rapid design iteration via UV erasure, making it valuable for development of measurement algorithms before committing to OTP production parts.
Recommended
Bus Interface Logic Adapters
The EP610IDC-10 can implement custom ISA, PC/104, or VME bus interface adapters where a small amount of programmable logic must combine address decoding, data buffering control, and interrupt arbitration. Its 4 dedicated inputs accept interrupt and DMA request signals directly, while the 20 I/O pins provide ample chip-select and control signal generation. The 10 ns delay is sufficient for 8 MHz ISA bus timing without wait-state insertion in most designs.
Recommended
Telecommunications Control Logic
The EP610IDC-10 was widely deployed in early-generation telecommunications equipment for line-interface control, framing logic, and alarm monitoring where its 5V TTL compatibility, ceramic packaging reliability, and deterministic timing closure were preferred over denser but more power-hungry alternatives. The 100 MHz counter frequency supports T1/E1 framing applications, while the 16 macrocells fit typical channel-association state machines used in channel banks and early digital cross-connect systems.
Recommended
Military/Aerospace Avionics (Legacy Systems)
The EP610 family has military temperature-grade equivalents (EP610DM-35, EP610DI variants) and the ceramic CDIP package is suitable for legacy avionics and defense systems that require hermetic packaging. The EP610IDC-10's compatibility with the MIL-STD-883 processing flow makes it a candidate for equipment where modern FPGA parts are not yet qualified. Engineers maintaining legacy avionics should verify the operating temperature range and radiation hardening requirements match the IDC-10 commercial-grade rating before substitution.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP610IDC-10 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP610DC-10 | EP610IDC-15 | EP610IDC-25 | EP610DC-15 | EP610DC-25 | EP610DC-30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 24-pin CDIP (ceramic, UV-erasable) | 24-pin PDIP (plastic OTP) - same DIP-24 footprint | 24-pin CDIP - same | 24-pin CDIP - same | 24-pin PDIP - same DIP-24 footprint | 24-pin PDIP - same DIP-24 footprint | 24-pin PDIP - same DIP-24 footprint |
| Brand | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) |
| Pin-to-Pin Delay (tpd) | 10 ns | 10 ns | 15 ns | 25 ns | 15 ns | 25 ns | 30 ns |
| Maximum Counter Frequency | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 83.3 MHz (estimated from tpd) | 62.5 MHz (estimated from tpd) | 83.3 MHz (estimated from tpd) | 62.5 MHz (estimated from tpd) | 55.6 MHz (estimated from tpd) |
| Macrocell Count | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Usable Gates | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Package Material | Ceramic (UV-erasable) | Plastic (OTP) | Ceramic (UV-erasable) | Ceramic (UV-erasable) | Plastic (OTP) | Plastic (OTP) | Plastic (OTP) |
| Reprogrammability | Yes (UV erase) | No (one-time programmable) | Yes (UV erase) | Yes (UV erase) | No (one-time programmable) | No (one-time programmable) | No (one-time programmable) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest speed grade in the EP610 Classic EPLD family (vs EP610IDC-15)
- UV-erasable ceramic package for development (vs EP610DC-10)
- Single 5V supply with TTL-compatible I/O (vs Modern MAX II CPLDs (EPM240))
Design Notes
The EP610IDC-10 requires a 5V ±5% supply; do not power it from 3.3V rails. The device is not 5V-tolerant in mixed-voltage systems, so any 3.3V input signal must be level-shifted with a 74HCT125-style buffer. Reverse supply polarity will permanently damage the CMOS EPLD cell array. Always decouple VCC with a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the device's VCC pin to suppress switching transients during macrocell toggling.
The 24-pin CDIP through-hole footprint requires a standard 600-mil DIP socket or solder-tail PCB pads with 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) row pitch and 0.6 inch (15.24 mm) row spacing. For UV erasure, install the device in a low-profile socket with a quartz window visible above the PCB. When designing replacement boards, leave room above the package for the UV eraser lamp clearance (typically 25 mm minimum). Use a quality gold-plated socket for repeated programming cycles.
Estimated: With tpd=10 ns and a 5V TTL load of 50 pF per output, dynamic power consumption at 10 MHz toggle rate is approximately P=CV²f × N = 50e-12 × 25 × 10e6 × 20 ≈ 250 mW for all 20 I/O pins switching simultaneously. Add ~100 mW static consumption for total ~350 mW worst case. Below 5 MHz most applications will dissipate under 200 mW. Always validate thermal envelope in your actual workload, not the worst-case estimate.
Compliance Information
EP610IDC-10 is lead-containing ceramic DIP from Altera's legacy Classic EPLD line, predating RoHS requirements. Compliance status not explicitly documented in current web data; the ceramic CDIP package typically contains lead-bearing solder and is generally not RoHS compliant. For RoHS-compliant replacements, evaluate the EP610DC-10 (plastic PDIP) status or migrate to a MAX II CPLD.
