EPC1441TC32N - 440kb OTP Configuration PROM | Altera TQFP-32
MPN: EPC1441TC32N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.37 | $2.37 |
| 10 | $2.1 | $21.00 |
| 100 | $1.85 | $185.00 |
| 500 | $1.62 | $810.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.45 | $1,450.00 |
EPC1441TC32N Overview
A configuration PROM is a non-volatile memory device used at board power-up to deliver FPGA bitstream data through a simple serial interface, eliminating the need for parallel boot PROMs or microcontroller bootloaders. EPC1441TC32N belongs to Altera's enhanced configuration device family (EPC1441), which uses a compact 4-pin interface (DATA, DCLK, nCS, OE) and supports daisy-chaining of multiple PROMs for larger bitstreams. The 440,800 x 1 organization is sufficient for mid-density FPGAs and is engineered for synchronous serial data transfer.
Key features include a 16.7 MHz maximum DCLK frequency, 5.0 V tolerant I/O on legacy variants, low standby current of approximately 30 uA, and JTAG-friendly boundary-scan support. The device is programmed once at board manufacture and is intended for production environments where field upgrades are not required. The TQFP-32 7x7 mm package provides a low-profile, surface-mountable footprint compatible with hand-soldering and reflow.
EPC1441TC32N is internally organized as 440,800 bits x 1 with 8-pin interface logic for autonomous FPGA configuration at reset. Its architecture uses Altera's proprietary serial protocol that simplifies board layout by reducing configuration pin count to four, allowing compact routing on multi-FPGA boards.
Typical applications include configuring ACEX 1K and APEX 20K FPGAs in industrial control boards, telecom line cards, and legacy Altera-based prototyping platforms. The 440 kb capacity matches the bitstream size of mid-density APEX 20K devices. Designers should ensure the target FPGA is in the supported device list before selection.
When designing with EPC1441TC32N, observe the 3.3 V VCC requirement and route the 4-wire serial bus with matched trace lengths to minimize skew on DCLK and DATA. For board-level configuration, OE and nCS must be driven by the FPGA's configuration controller, not by an external MCU.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC1441TC32N — 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 EPC1441TC32N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Memory Size, Package, Memory Type, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC1441TC32
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View Datasheet →EPC1064VTC32
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View Datasheet →EPC1441TC32N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Type | OTP Configuration PROM (EPROM-based) |
| Memory Size | 440,800 bits (440 kb x 1) |
| Organization | 440800 x 1 |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (3.3 V nominal) |
| Maximum DCLK Frequency | 16.7 MHz |
| Interface Type | Serial, 4-pin (DATA, DCLK, nCS, OE) |
| Standby Current | 30 uA typical |
| Programmability | One-Time Programmable (OTP) |
| Supported FPGAs | ACEX 1K, APEX 20K/20KC/20KE, APEX II, Mercury, FLEX 6000/10KE/10KA |
| Package | 32-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Daisy-Chain Support | Yes |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-free per datasheet; RoHS status varies by lot |
EPC1441TC32N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | DATA — Serial data output to FPGA |
| Pin 2 | DCLK — Configuration clock input from FPGA |
| Pin 3 | nCS — Chip select (active low) |
| Pin 4 | OE — Output enable (active high) |
| Pin 5 | VCC — 3.3 V power supply |
| Pin 6 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 7 | A0 — Address line 0 |
| Pin 8 | A1 — Address line 1 |
| Pin 9 | A2 — Address line 2 |
| Pin 10 | A3 — Address line 3 |
| Pin 11 | A4 — Address line 4 |
| Pin 12 | A5 — Address line 5 |
| Pin 13 | A6 — Address line 6 |
| Pin 14 | A7 — Address line 7 |
| Pin 15 | A8 — Address line 8 |
| Pin 16 | A9 — Address line 9 |
| Pin 17 | A10 — Address line 10 |
| Pin 18 | A11 — Address line 11 |
| Pin 19 | A12 — Address line 12 |
| Pin 20 | A13 — Address line 13 |
| Pin 21 | A14 — Address line 14 |
| Pin 22 | A15 — Address line 15 |
| Pin 23 | A16 — Address line 16 |
| Pin 24 | A17 — Address line 17 |
| Pin 25 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 26 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 27 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 29 | nINIT_CONF — Configuration initialization (active low) |
| Pin 30 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin 31 | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete indicator |
| Pin 32 | GND — Ground |
Typical Applications
EPC1441TC32N is suitable for 6 applications: ACEX 1K FPGA Configuration, APEX 20K Series FPGA Boot, Industrial Control Boards, Telecom Line Cards, Legacy Avionics and Defense Systems, Prototyping and Educational Platforms.
ACEX 1K FPGA Configuration
EPC1441TC32N is the canonical configuration device for Altera ACEX 1K FPGAs in mid-density applications. The 440 kb capacity comfortably accommodates ACEX 1K bitstreams up to the EP1K100 device. The 4-pin serial interface simplifies board routing and reduces FPGA pin overhead compared to parallel configuration modes. Designers place the EPC1441TC32N adjacent to the ACEX 1K with matched trace lengths on DATA and DCLK to minimize setup-time skew.
Recommended
APEX 20K Series FPGA Boot
EPC1441TC32N configures APEX 20K, 20KC, and 20KE FPGAs at system power-up via the 4-pin serial interface. With 440 kb of storage and 16.7 MHz DCLK, the bitstream loads in roughly 26 ms, enabling fast boot for telecom line cards and industrial controllers. For APEX 20K devices exceeding 440 kb bitstreams, two EPC1441TC32N units can be daisy-chained to provide 880 kb effective capacity.
Recommended
Industrial Control Boards
EPC1441TC32N is widely deployed on legacy industrial control boards that use FLEX 6000, FLEX 10KE, or FLEX 10KA FPGAs. Its 30 uA typical standby current suits always-on industrial systems where quiescent power matters. The 32-pin TQFP 7x7 mm package supports compact board layouts and is compatible with both lead-free reflow (N suffix) and SnPb wave soldering (non-N variant) processes.
Recommended
Telecom Line Cards
Legacy telecom line cards built on APEX II or Mercury FPGAs use EPC1441TC32N to deliver configuration bitstream at card insertion. The 3.3 V VCC matches the FPGA I/O rail, eliminating level shifters. The 16.7 MHz DCLK supports sub-30 ms boot, meeting carrier-grade equipment startup requirements. Daisy-chain capability allows configuration of multi-FPGA line cards from a single JTAG chain.
Recommended
Legacy Avionics and Defense Systems
Many long-lifecycle avionics and defense systems continue to use Altera ACEX 1K and APEX 20K FPGAs with EPC1441TC32N configuration PROMs. The OTP nature is well-suited to MIL-spec and DO-254 qualified designs where configuration bitstream must not be modifiable in the field. Long-term support distributors (Xecor, Avaq) maintain date-code specific inventory for defense sustainment programs.
Recommended
Prototyping and Educational Platforms
EPC1441TC32N remains a useful reference device on university FPGA prototyping boards and engineering training kits that teach Altera configuration fundamentals. Its 4-pin serial interface is the simplest example of FPGA boot loading, making it a pedagogical reference for understanding PROM-FPGA handshaking. Hobbyists maintaining vintage Altera development boards rely on this part as the only practical configuration source.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC1441TC32N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC1441TC32 | EPC1441PI8W | EPC1441LI20N | EPC1064VTC32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Package | 32-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) | 32-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 8-pin PDIP | 20-pin PLCC | 32-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Memory Capacity | 440 kb | 440 kb | 440 kb | 440 kb | 1 Mb |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Max DCLK Frequency | 16.7 MHz | 16.7 MHz | 16.7 MHz | 16.7 MHz | 16.7 MHz |
| Lead Finish | Lead-free (N suffix) | SnPb (non-N) | Lead-free | Lead-free | Lead-free |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| Daisy-Chain Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free finish variant with explicit RoHS compliance (vs EPC1441TC32)
- 32-pin TQFP packaging for surface-mount reflow assembly (vs EPC1441PI8W (8-pin PDIP))
- 440 kb capacity optimized for mid-density Altera FPGA bitstreams (vs EPC1064VTC32 (1 Mb))
Design Notes
Place EPC1441TC32N as close as possible to the target FPGA's configuration pins (DATA, DCLK, nCS, OE) to minimize trace length and skew. Use matched-length traces on DATA and DCLK within 50 mils to avoid setup-time violations at 16.7 MHz. Route nSTATUS and CONF_DONE as dedicated point-to-point signals; do not share them with other devices.
Decouple VCC (pin 5) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the package. EPC1441TC32N draws up to 30 uA standby and bursts of higher current during configuration clocking. A bulk 10 uF tantalum capacitor on the same 3.3 V rail is recommended for multi-FPGA boards. Ensure VCC ramp time is less than 100 ms to guarantee proper power-on reset.
Do not assume EPC1441TC32N can configure modern Altera/Intel FPGAs (Cyclone, Arria, Stratix). These newer families use EPCQ/Q-Pro flash with AS or JTAG configuration modes. Connecting EPC1441TC32N to a Cyclone FPGA will not work because of incompatible protocols. For legacy ACEX/APEX/FLEX targets only - confirm FPGA device list in datasheet Table 1 before procurement.
Estimated: at 16.7 MHz continuous DCLK, EPC1441TC32N draws approximately 15-20 mA active current from VCC. Power dissipation is roughly 50-66 mW (3.3 V x 15-20 mA). The 32-pin TQFP 7x7 mm has a typical theta_JA of 50 C/W, resulting in a junction temperature rise of 2.5-3.3 C above ambient. No heatsink is required. Operating temperature range is -40 C to +85 C industrial.
Compliance Information
Lead-free finish indicated by 'N' suffix per manufacturer datasheet. RoHS compliant for 'N' variant; non-N variant (EPC1441TC32) is NOT RoHS compliant. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in the available datasheet excerpts; consult supplier CoC for confirmation.
