EP910DM-40 - 24-Macrocell UV EPLD Classic PAL-Type | Altera
MPN: EP910DM-40 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38 | $38.00 |
| 10 | $32.5 | $325.00 |
| 100 | $27 | $2,700.00 |
| 500 | $23.5 | $11,750.00 |
| 1,000 | $21 | $21,000.00 |
EP910DM-40 Overview
A UV Erasable Programmable Logic Device (EPLD) is a type of programmable logic IC that uses ultraviolet light to erase its configuration before re-programming. EPLDs belong to the broader category of Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) within the programmable logic semiconductor hierarchy: PLD -> EPLD -> Classic EPLD. The EP910 sits between simpler PAL/GAL devices (typically 8-16 macrocells) and larger CPLDs, providing a balance of logic density and predictable timing. Its PAL-type AND/OR architecture with a global bus provides deterministic pin-to-pin delays, which is why EPLDs remained popular for asynchronous state machines and bus-interface glue logic long after FPGAs became mainstream.
Key features include 24 macrocells with user-configurable I/O, a non-volatile UV-erasable configuration memory, 4 dedicated clock inputs supporting two clock domains, and JEDEC-standard fuse-map programming. The EP910DM-40's 40 ns tPD makes it appropriate for control logic running at clock rates up to approximately 20-25 MHz, and its CMOS technology delivers low standby power for always-on systems.
Typical applications include address decoding and bus-interface glue logic for microprocessors, asynchronous state machines, custom decoder/replacement logic, and legacy 5V industrial control boards. The DIP-40 ceramic package (windowed Cerdip) allows in-circuit reprogramming via UV erasure, which is valuable for prototyping and field-upgradable equipment.
When designing with the EP910DM-40, note that 5V CMOS signal levels are mandatory and that unused I/O pins should be left unconnected or tied per datasheet recommendations. The ceramic DIP-40 (windowed) package retains its UV window for re-erasure, while the plastic OTP variants cannot be re-programmed.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, parametric datasheet figures, and Altera EP910 cross-family variant listings that go beyond the standalone EP910 datasheet, helping engineers source and substitute this legacy Classic EPLD part.
Drop-in alternatives for EP910DM-40 — 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 EP910DM-40 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Family, Operating Temperature, Programming Method, Supply Voltage (VCC).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP910DC-40
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$13.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP910DM-35
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP910DC-35
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP910DC-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP910DI-35
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$35.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP910DI-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP910DM-40 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | UV Erasable Programmable Logic Device (EPLD) |
| Family | Altera Classic EP910 |
| Architecture | PAL-type AND/OR with global programmable interconnect bus |
| Macrocells | 24 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 36 |
| Dedicated Outputs | 24 |
| Bidirectional I/O Lines | 24 |
| Product Terms | 240 |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 40 ns |
| External Clocks | 2 |
| Process Technology | CMOS |
| Package | 40-pin Ceramic DIP (Cerdip) with UV window |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V |
| Programming Interface | JEDEC-standard fuse-map / UV erasure |
EP910DM-40 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin (macrocell 24 I/O bank) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 4 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 5 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 6 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 7 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 11 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 17 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 19 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 20 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 21 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 22 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 23 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 24 | I/O — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 25 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 26 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 27 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 28 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 29 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 30 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 31 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 32 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 33 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 34 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 35 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 36 | IN — Dedicated input pin |
| Pin 37 | CLK — External clock input 1 |
| Pin 38 | CLK — External clock input 2 |
| Pin 39 | VCC — +5V supply |
| Pin 40 | GND — Ground |
Typical Applications
EP910DM-40 is suitable for 6 applications: Microprocessor Bus Interface Glue Logic, Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation, Asynchronous State Machines, Legacy 5V Industrial Control Boards, Custom Decoder and Logic Replacement, Prototype and Field-Programmable Logic Development.
Microprocessor Bus Interface Glue Logic
The EP910DM-40 is a natural fit for microprocessor bus-interface glue logic where deterministic timing and 5V CMOS signal levels matter. Its 24 dedicated inputs can decode a full 24-bit address bus in a single device, while the 24 dedicated outputs drive chip-select and control signals to peripheral devices. With 40 ns tPD the part fits ISA bus timings (8 MHz) and most 8086/68000 wait-state insertions, and its PAL-type AND/OR architecture guarantees fixed pin-to-pin delay across all I/O - critical for asynchronous bus protocols. The DIP-40 ceramic package supports UV erasure, making it ideal for prototype iterations of board logic before committing to a production mask.
Recommended
Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation
With 36 dedicated inputs and 240 product terms, the EP910DM-40 can decode complex memory and I/O address ranges without external gates. Each macrocell supports wide OR-terms, allowing full-address decoders for 24-bit address buses plus chip-selects for RAM, ROM, and peripherals. The 40 ns propagation delay is more than adequate for 8-bit and 16-bit microprocessor systems where address valid-to-chip-select propagation must occur in one clock cycle. Designers can implement boot-ROM, peripheral, and memory-mapped I/O chip-selects in one EPLD, replacing 4-6 standard 74LS/HC decoder packages.
Recommended
Asynchronous State Machines
The EP910DM-40's PAL-type architecture with deterministic pin-to-pin delays makes it ideal for asynchronous state machines where setup/hold timing across multiple feedback paths must be guaranteed. Its 24 macrocells can implement 16-24 states with full Mealy or Moore encoding, while the 240 product terms handle wide input combinations. EPLDs outperform early FPGAs in asynchronous designs because their AND-OR plane is fully combinatorial, avoiding the routing-induced variable delays that plague LUT-based FPGAs in pure-async applications. Common uses include protocol converters, bus-arbiters, and industrial sequencers.
Recommended
Legacy 5V Industrial Control Boards
Many legacy industrial control systems designed in the late 1980s and 1990s use the EP910DM-40 for I/O expansion, signal conditioning, and sensor multiplexing in 5V CMOS logic environments. The DIP-40 ceramic package is field-replaceable on through-hole PCBs without rework, and UV erasure allows field firmware updates for long-life industrial equipment. With 24 bidirectional I/O lines and 4 clock inputs supporting two clock domains, the EP910DM-40 can synchronize sensor inputs, drive relay boards, and coordinate stepper-motor control pulses - all in one device. Its CMOS low standby current suits always-on control panels.
Recommended
Custom Decoder and Logic Replacement
The EP910DM-40 is widely used to replace discrete 74LS/74HC logic packages with custom decoders, multiplexers, and combinational glue. Each macrocell replaces 1-3 discrete SSI/MSI packages, and 24 macrocells in one DIP-40 can compress an entire board of small logic into a single socketed part - reducing board area, improving reliability, and simplifying BOM. This application is especially valuable in legacy aerospace, defense, and medical equipment where the exact discrete-logic design must be retained but the BOM must be modernized. UV erasability allows iterative design without scrapping ceramic parts.
Recommended
Prototype and Field-Programmable Logic Development
The EP910DM-40's UV-erasable ceramic windowed package makes it the device of choice for prototyping and iterative development. Engineers can program a JEDEC fuse-map, test it in-circuit, and re-erase with a UV eraser in 20-30 minutes - perfect for early-stage development of glue logic before committing to a one-time-programmable or mask-programmed part. The DIP-40 ceramic package also supports field firmware updates in deployed equipment, making the EP910DM-40 valuable for long-life-cycle products where in-system ISP is not available. Common uses include military, aerospace, and instrumentation prototypes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP910DM-40 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP910DC-40 | EP910DM-35 | EP910DC-35 | EP910DC-30 | EP910DI-35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin Ceramic DIP (Cerdip) UV | 40-pin Plastic DIP OTP | 40-pin Ceramic DIP (Cerdip) UV | 40-pin Plastic DIP OTP | 40-pin Plastic DIP OTP | 40-pin Ceramic DIP (Cerdip) UV |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Macrocells | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 40 ns | 40 ns | 35 ns | 35 ns | 30 ns | 35 ns |
| Dedicated Inputs | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Dedicated Outputs | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Product Terms | 240 | 240 | 240 | 240 | 240 | 240 |
| Erasure Method | UV (windowed) | OTP (one-time programmable) | UV (windowed) | OTP (one-time programmable) | OTP (one-time programmable) | UV (windowed) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- UV-erasable ceramic windowed package for in-circuit reprogramming (vs EP910DC-40)
- 24 macrocells with deterministic PAL-type timing (vs EP610 family (16 macrocells))
- 36 dedicated inputs supporting full 24-bit address decoding (vs Generic 22V10 PAL (12 dedicated inputs))
Design Notes
When substituting an EP910DM-40 with an EP910DC-40 in an existing design, verify that the application's timing budget tolerates the plastic OTP package's slightly higher output capacitance compared to the ceramic windowed variant - in high-speed bus designs above 20 MHz, this can add 1-2 ns of edge degradation. Both parts share the same die and pinout, so footprint compatibility is guaranteed; only the erase mechanism (UV vs OTP) and minor AC parameters differ.
For EP910DM-40 designs, place 100 nF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to VCC (pin 39) and GND (pin 40) on a 40-pin DIP-40 footprint. Add a 10 uF bulk tantalum or electrolytic capacitor at the board's power-entry point. Because the EP910DM-40 has 24 bidirectional I/O pins that can switch simultaneously, ground bounce can exceed 0.5 V without proper decoupling - so use a low-inductance ground plane under the DIP socket rather than a single ground trace.
The EP910DM-40's PAL-type AND/OR architecture provides fixed pin-to-pin delays independent of logic placement, which is its main advantage over FPGAs for asynchronous designs. However, asynchronous feedback paths through the macrocell register can still create setup-time violations if the input combinational path exceeds 40 ns - always perform static timing analysis on the JEDEC fuse-map using Altera's legacy MAX+PLUS II software before committing the design. Synchronous designs using both clock inputs (CLK1/CLK2) provide the cleanest timing margins.
Estimated: at 5V VCC, the EP910DM-40 draws approximately 100-200 mA active and 5-20 mA standby, dissipating 0.5-1.0 W. The ceramic DIP-40 package has a theta-JA of approximately 50-60 C/W, giving a junction temperature rise of 25-60 C above ambient. For reliable operation across -40 C to +85 C industrial temperatures, no heatsink is required, but ensure adequate airflow in enclosed industrial enclosures.
Compliance Information
EP910DM-40 is a legacy Altera Classic EPLD from the early 1990s. Ceramic DIP-40 packages of this era were typically non-RoHS (tin-lead solder finish) and lack modern environmental certifications. RoHS and REACH status were not stated in the verified data. Not applicable for AEC-Q100 automotive qualification.
