EPC1441LC20N - 440Kb OTP Config PROM, 20-PLCC | Intel/Altera
MPN: EPC1441LC20N β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.5 | $12.50 |
| 10 | $11.2 | $112.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.9 | $4,450.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.95 | $7,950.00 |
EPC1441LC20N Overview
Background knowledge: An FPGA configuration PROM is a non-volatile memory device that stores the bitstream for SRAM-based FPGAs. Because SRAM configuration cells lose their contents when power is removed, every power-on requires a reload of the configuration bitstream from an external source. The configuration hierarchy in a programmable-logic design therefore sits below the FPGA in the system architecture: bitstream source -> configuration PROM -> FPGA logic fabric -> user I/O. EPC1-series PROMs belong to this class of serial-configuration memory, predating the higher-density EPCS and EPCQ flash-based successors that replaced them in modern designs.
Key features of the EPC1441LC20N include a 440 Kb storage capacity (sufficient for compact bitstreams such as those used by ACEX 1K and small Cyclone devices), an 8 MHz maximum configuration clock rate, an industry-standard 4-pin serial interface (nCS, DCLK, DATA, nINIT_CONF), and integrated JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) support for in-system programming. The 20-pin PLCC package is socket-compatible with earlier EPC1 family members, allowing reuse of legacy board layouts.
Technical depth: Internally the EPC1441LC20N uses a one-time-programmable EPROM cell array organized as 55 K x 8 bits and clocked through a serial state machine that walks the FPGA through its configuration sequence after power-up reset. The nINIT_CONF open-drain pin can be wire-OR'd with the FPGA's nCONFIG to chain multiple configuration sources; the nCS line enables cascading of additional PROMs when larger bitstreams are required.
Typical applications include legacy industrial controllers using ACEX 1K or FLEX 10K FPGAs, telecommunications line cards built on APEX 20K, video processing engines based on Cyclone I, and test fixtures that emulate a known-good bitstream for production programming of downstream PROMs. The 20-PLCC socket footprint also supports hand-rework in low-volume production.
When designing with the EPC1441LC20N, observe the nCONFIG / nSTATUS handshake timing in the datasheet and provide a pull-up on nINIT_CONF. Because the device is OTP, pre-verified bitstreams must be loaded with the Altera Programming Unit or a compatible JTAG programmer before board installation; field updates are not possible.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC1441LC20N 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 EPC1441LC20N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Memory Type, Package, Memory Size, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC1441LC20
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βEPC1441-LC20
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC1441LI20
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$8.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC1213LC20
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$7.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC1213LI20
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$9.75 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC1064LC20
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$9.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC1441LC20N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM (One-Time Programmable) |
| Memory Size | 440 Kbit |
| Organization | 55 K x 8 bit |
| Interface | Serial, 4-wire (nCS, DCLK, DATA, nINIT_CONF) |
| Configuration Clock (DCLK) | 8 MHz maximum |
| Programming Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) / Altera Programming Unit |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (typical) |
| Package | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9 x 9 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Supported FPGA Families | ACEX 1K, APEX 20K, APEX II, Arria GX, Cyclone, Cyclone II, FLEX 10K, FLEX 6000, Mercury, Stratix, Stratix GX, Stratix II, Stratix II GX |
| Cascadable | Yes (nCS daisy-chain) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (PLCC socket compatible) |
EPC1441LC20N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | DATA β Serial data output to FPGA |
| Pin 2 | DCLK β Configuration clock input from FPGA |
| Pin 3 | nCS β Chip select (active low) |
| Pin 4 | nINIT_CONF β Open-drain initialization/confirmation |
| Pin 5 | VCC β 3.3 V supply |
| Pin 6 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 7 | TDI β JTAG test data in |
| Pin 8 | TDO β JTAG test data out |
| Pin 9 | TMS β JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 10 | TCK β JTAG test clock |
| Pin 11 | nSTATUS β Open-drain configuration status |
| Pin 12 | OE β Output enable for DATA pin |
| Pin 13 | A0 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 14 | A1 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 15 | A2 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 16 | A3 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 17 | A4 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 18 | A5 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 19 | A6 β Address line / mode select |
| Pin 20 | A7 β Address line / mode select |
Typical Applications
EPC1441LC20N is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy ACEX 1K / FLEX 10K Configuration, Cyclone / Cyclone II Bitstream Storage, APEX 20K / APEX II System Configuration, Stratix / Stratix GX Industrial Controllers, Telecom Line Card Boot Source, Production JTAG Programming Fixture.
Legacy ACEX 1K / FLEX 10K Configuration
The EPC1441LC20N provides the boot-time bitstream for ACEX 1K and FLEX 10K SRAM-based Altera FPGAs, both of which require an external non-volatile source because their configuration cells are volatile. At power-up the PROM streams the 440 Kb image through the EPC1 4-wire serial interface (nCS, DCLK, DATA, nINIT_CONF) at up to 8 MHz, completing configuration in tens of milliseconds for typical ACEX 1K designs. The 20-PLCC socket allows field replacement of legacy boards still in service in industrial controllers. Compared with parallel EPROM approaches, the EPC1441LC20N reduces board area and pin count while remaining compatible with the existing JTAG chain.
Recommended
Cyclone / Cyclone II Bitstream Storage
Older Cyclone and Cyclone II designs that rely on the EPC1 passive-serial mode can use the EPC1441LC20N as a compact configuration source. The PROM's 440 Kb capacity is sufficient for small Cyclone (EP1C3, EP1C6) bitstreams, and the 8 MHz DCLK rate meets the slow passive-serial timing these FPGAs support natively. Designers transitioning to Cyclone III/IV should instead migrate to EPCS4/EPCS16 active-serial flash. The 20-PLCC socket of the EPC1441LC20N simplifies upgrade paths for installed Cyclone I/II baseboards.
Recommended
APEX 20K / APEX II System Configuration
APEX 20K and APEX II multi-million-gate FPGAs require multi-Mb bitstreams, but the EPC1441LC20N remains the configured source for small APEX variants or for designs split across cascaded PROMs. When daisy-chained through nCS, two EPC1441LC20N devices deliver 880 Kb of storage - enough for compact APEX 20K100 designs in legacy telecommunications line cards. The 4-wire EPC1 serial interface keeps the FPGA-to-PROM bus short and easy to route on the existing 4-layer backplane.
Recommended
Stratix / Stratix GX Industrial Controllers
First-generation Stratix and Stratix GX devices in long-life industrial platforms are still configured by EPC1441LC20N PROMs in production designs. The PROM's commercial temperature range (0 C to +70 C) suits enclosed control cabinets, and the JTAG programming path allows the same PROMs to be re-burned for field retrofits before installation. Because the part is OTP, designers keep a verified golden image library and burn fresh units at the programming station rather than updating in the field.
Recommended
Telecom Line Card Boot Source
Telecom line cards built on FLEX 10K, APEX 20K, or early Stratix devices use the EPC1441LC20N as the cold-boot bitstream source, providing deterministic start-up timing required for carrier-grade NEBS compliance. The 8 MHz DCLK rate keeps configuration time under 100 ms for typical 200-300 Kb images, and the 20-PLCC socket supports swap-in replacement during board repair. Open-drain nINIT_CONF and nSTATUS lines wire-OR cleanly with the FPGA handshake for fail-safe multi-PROM configurations.
Recommended
Production JTAG Programming Fixture
Programming fixtures that pre-load the EPC1441LC20N before board installation rely on the PROM's JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) interface and the Quartus II Programmer tool. The fixture burns the verified golden bitstream in seconds and visually verifies PASS/FAIL via nSTATUS, allowing end-of-line test automation. The 20-PLCC socket on the fixture matches the production board, eliminating adapter cables. Because the part is OTP, fixtures hold a tray of pre-programmed PROMs ready for assembly rather than reflashing on demand.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC1441LC20N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC1441LC20 | EPC1441-LC20 | EPC1441LI20 | EPC1213LC20 | EPC1213LI20 | EPC1064LC20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same | 20-PLCC (J-Lead, 9x9) - same |
| Memory Size | 440 Kbit | 440 Kbit | 440 Kbit | 440 Kbit | ~210 Kbit | ~210 Kbit | 65 Kbit |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
| Max Configuration Clock | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C |
| Programming Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Lead-Free Plating | Yes (Pb-free) | No (leaded) | No (leaded) | Yes | No (leaded) | Yes | No (leaded) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Drop-in compatibility with the entire Intel EPC1441 OTP family on a 20-PLCC footprint (vs EPC1213LC20)
- Lead-free Pb-free plating for RoHS-aligned production (vs EPC1441LC20)
- Industrial-temperature variant available in the same 20-PLCC package (vs EPC1441LI20)
Design Notes
The EPC1441LC20N is one-time-programmable. Designers must verify the bitstream off-line (Quartus II simulation, in-system FPGA verification) before committing to the PROM - field re-programming is impossible. Bake a known-good golden image and only then burn production PROMs at the programming fixture. Trying to iterate on a programmed OTP PROM wastes units.
Place the EPC1441LC20N within 50 mm of the FPGA's serial configuration pins (DATA, DCLK, nCS, nINIT_CONF) to keep the bus short. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on nINIT_CONF and nSTATUS (open-drain lines), and route TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO as a 4-wire JTAG chain accessible at a header. A 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VCC pin 5 is required; add a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same rail.
Keep the EPC1441LC20N's JTAG chain physically separate from high-speed FPGA I/O to avoid coupling noise onto TCK/TMS. Use a dedicated JTAG header with ESD protection diodes. If multiple configuration devices are cascaded via nCS daisy-chain, ensure each PROM's DATA pin is tri-stated between bytes by using the OE pin correctly - mismatched OE timing causes configuration errors that are difficult to diagnose.
Power sequencing: the FPGA must hold nCONFIG low until VCC is stable on both the FPGA and the EPC1441LC20N. The PROM does not have a power-on-reset inhibit period; an early nCONFIG release can cause partial configuration and require a re-trigger. A simple RC delay on nCONFIG (1 kohm, 1 nF) provides 1 us of margin.
Compliance Information
The 'N' suffix indicates Pb-free plating per Altera/Intel's MPN convention. RoHS compliance certificate must be requested per shipment from the distributor; REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations are not consistently published for this obsolete part.
