EPF10K100ARC240-2 - FLEX 10KA FPGA, 4992 LEs | Altera
MPN: EPF10K100ARC240-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $158 | $158.00 |
| 10 | $145.5 | $1,455.00 |
| 100 | $132 | $13,200.00 |
| 500 | $124 | $62,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $118 | $118,000.00 |
EPF10K100ARC240-2 Overview
What is an FPGA? A field programmable gate array is a reconfigurable digital device built from an array of configurable logic blocks joined by programmable interconnect, letting one silicon die implement arbitrary synchronous logic after manufacture. In the device taxonomy a FLEX 10KA part is an FPGA, an FPGA is a programmable logic device (PLD), and a PLD sits beside microcontrollers, ASICs and ASSPs in the digital integrated circuit family. Altera's FLEX 10K was the industry's first embedded PLD family to deliver system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) integration, combining a flexible logic array with an embedded array for memory and specialized functions.
Headline specifications include 4,992 logic elements organized into 624 logic array blocks (LABs), 24,576 RAM bits of embedded memory, 189 user I/Os, 100,000 typical gates and a 0.600 ns propagation delay quoted in distributor parametric listings. The LAB arithmetic mode provides two three-input look-up tables - one computes a three-input function while the other generates the carry - which makes the architecture efficient for the adders, accumulators and comparators used in datapath, counter and DSP-style blocks.
Architecturally the FLEX 10KA is an SRAM-configured CMOS FPGA: configuration is loaded at every power-up from an external source rather than from on-chip non-volatile memory, so a companion configuration device (Altera's EPC-series parts are the documented companions) sits in the power-up chain. The 240-pin RQFP uses gull-wing leads and an exposed pad, giving a surface-mount footprint that is easier to inspect and rework than a BGA of similar pin count - a practical benefit for legacy and low-volume production.
Typical applications are legacy industrial controllers, telecommunications line cards, test and measurement instruments, medical imaging front ends and video processing boards designed around the FLEX 10K/10KA architecture. In each case the 189 user I/Os and 4,992 logic elements glue processors, memory and analog front ends together, and the device is retained because qualifying a replacement FPGA would require a full PCB respin.
One critical design consideration is configuration: because the device is SRAM-based it must be configured on every power-up, so the configuration clock, data and status handshake must be treated as a real interface with correct pull-ups. The exposed pad must be soldered to ground with a via array for both ground integrity and heat removal.
This page synthesizes distributor parametric data, drop-in FLEX 10KA alternatives, obsolete-part sourcing guidance and practical design notes that are not collected in one place in the manufacturer data sheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K100ARC240-2 — 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 EPF10K100ARC240-2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Process Technology, Package, Speed Grade, Propagation Delay, Series.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K100ARC240-2N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K100ARC240-1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$205 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K100ARC240-3
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K100ARC240-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series / Family | FLEX 10KA (FLEX 10K embedded PLD family) |
| Device Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 4,992 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 624 |
| Typical Gate Count | 100,000 gates |
| Embedded Memory | 24,576 RAM bits |
| Number of User I/Os | 189 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 142.86 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 0.600 ns (distributor parametric listing; see validation note) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Package / Case | 240-pin RQFP (BFQFP) with exposed pad |
| Number of Terminals | 240 |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (commercial grade) |
| Temperature Grading | Commercial |
EPF10K100ARC240-2 square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPF10K100ARC240-2 (square 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 EPF10K100ARC240-2.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPF10K100ARC240-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Automation and Motion Control, Telecommunications Line Cards and Framer Glue Logic, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Front Ends, Video and Image Processing / Broadcast Equipment, Obsolescence Management, Repair and Second Sourcing.
Legacy Industrial Automation and Motion Control
The EPF10K100ARC240-2 suits industrial automation hardware designed around late-1990s Altera FLEX 10K logic: 4,992 logic elements across 624 LABs are enough to implement multi-axis step/direction pulse generators, quadrature encoder decoders and a parallel host-bus interface inside a single device. Its 189 user I/Os allow direct connection to peripheral logic through external level translation, while the 3.3 V CMOS core keeps the power tree simple. In this role the device is typically clocked at 25-50 MHz, well inside the 142.86 MHz grade capability, leaving large timing margin. The exposed-pad RQFP package withstands cabinet-mounted vibration and thermal cycling better than a socketed BGA, and its gull-wing leads can be hand-reworked in the field when a board must be repaired rather than replaced.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Cards and Framer Glue Logic
In telecom line cards the EPF10K100ARC240-2 provides the glue logic between framers, line interface units and a host processor. The 24,576 RAM bits are used as elastic FIFOs and channel buffers for E1/T1 or OC-3 rate traffic, while 189 user I/Os absorb wide parallel buses that would otherwise need dozens of discrete logic packages. Because the device is SRAM-configured and loads its bitstream at power-up, the line card can be field-updated by replacing the configuration PROM rather than the FPGA, an important advantage in deployed telecom equipment. Typical clock rates in this application are 19.44 MHz or 25 MHz, comfortably within the -2 speed grade, and the 3.3 V CMOS I/O interfaces directly with legacy telecom PHY devices on the same board.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Test and measurement instruments built in the FLEX 10K era use the EPF10K100ARC240-2 for trigger logic, sample-sequencer state machines and bus interfacing. The 4,992 logic elements are sufficient for multi-level trigger comparators running at the instrument's sample clock, while the 189 user I/Os drive front-panel logic, memory address buses and display controllers in parallel. Because the part is commercial grade, 0 C to +70 C, it fits rack-mounted instruments with forced-air cooling but not outdoor or unheated environments. The 0.600 ns propagation delay quoted in distributor parametric data supports the fast comparator paths these instruments need, and because the design is held in external configuration memory, firmware fixes can be shipped as a replacement EPC-series device without touching the instrument's PCB.
Recommended
Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Front Ends
Legacy medical imaging equipment such as ultrasound beamformers and CT data-acquisition front ends used the EPF10K100ARC240-2 to aggregate digitized channels and format them for a host DSP. The device's 189 user I/Os allow many parallel ADC data buses to be captured simultaneously, and the 24,576 embedded RAM bits act as channel buffers before the data is packetized. Deterministic, fully parallel capture is the reason these designs were never ported to a serial interface: the FPGA logic is fixed and verified, and requalifying a modern device in a regulated medical product would trigger a full design-history-file review. Sustaining the existing EPF10K100ARC240-2 inventory is therefore usually cheaper than recertification, and the same bitstream continues to run unchanged.
Recommended
Video and Image Processing / Broadcast Equipment
Broadcast and video equipment from the same generation used the EPF10K100ARC240-2 for pixel-format conversion, line-buffer control and genlock timing. Its 4,992 logic elements and 24,576 RAM bits are adequate for line-based processing at standard-definition rates, and the 189 user I/Os carry parallel video buses and control signals to encoder and DAC devices. The arithmetic mode inside each LAB - two three-input look-up tables, one producing a three-input function and the other a carry - makes adders and comparators for sync detection and timing recovery efficient in silicon. Because these systems are routinely kept in service for decades, the part is usually second-sourced rather than redesigned, and its gull-wing RQFP package can be reworked with standard hot-air equipment.
Recommended
Obsolescence Management, Repair and Second Sourcing
The EPF10K100ARC240-2 is now primarily bought to keep existing products running rather than for new designs. Repair depots need pin-identical replacements, and the FLEX 10KA speed grades -1, -2, -2N and -3 - all share the same 240-pin RQFP land pattern, so any of them can be installed without reworking the board. Because the family is discontinued, buyers must verify date codes and provenance: obsolete FPGAs are frequently counterfeited or sold as refurbished. Request a certificate of conformance, inspect lead finish and marking, and functionally test a sample in an actual board before releasing material to a production line. Keeping a qualified second source and a small bonded stock is the standard mitigation for devices in this lifecycle state.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K100ARC240-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K100ARC240-2N | EPF10K100ARC240-1 | EPF10K100ARC240-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 240-pin RQFP (BFQFP) with exposed pad | 240-pin RQFP (BFQFP) - same footprint | 240-pin RQFP (BFQFP) - same footprint | 240-pin RQFP (BFQFP) - same footprint |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 4,992 | 4,992 | 4,992 | 4,992 |
| User I/O Pins | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 | -1 (faster) | -3 (slower) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete, limited distributor and broker stock | Obsolete, limited distributor and broker stock | Obsolete, limited distributor and broker stock | Obsolete, limited distributor and broker stock |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced speed grade with identical logic and I/O resources (vs EPF10K100ARC240-1)
- More timing margin than the slowest grade at the same footprint (vs EPF10K100ARC240-3)
- Lead-free sourcing option with no layout change (vs EPF10K100ARC240-2N)
Design Notes
Decouple every VCC pin of the EPF10K100ARC240-2 with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within a few millimetres of the pin, and add one 10 uF bulk capacitor per supply group close to the package edge. FLEX 10K devices draw large transient currents during configuration, so the bulk capacitor is not optional. Estimated: with 189 I/Os switching simultaneously at 3.3 V, the dynamic supply current can exceed the static figure by a wide margin - size the bulk capacitance from the Altera power estimation worksheet rather than from the static ICC rating, and verify the 3.3 V rail stays within tolerance during configuration.
The 240-pin RQFP has an exposed pad that is both an electrical ground and the dominant heat path. Solder it to a ground plane with a via array (typically 3x3 thermal vias) directly beneath the pad, and keep the copper area as large as the layout allows. Estimated: for a FLEX 10K device dissipating on the order of 0.5 W to 1 W, a 25 mm x 25 mm copper pad with thermal vias keeps the junction rise modest at 70 C ambient, but because Altera's package thermal resistance data must be used for a final calculation, treat any figure here as an estimate and confirm with the FLEX 10K data sheet thermal tables.
FLEX 10K devices are SRAM-configured and lose their configuration at power-down, so the design must include a configuration device in the power-up chain and correct handling of the configuration handshake (nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, DCLK, DATA0). Never leave nSTATUS without a pull-up; a floating nSTATUS holds the device in an error state and the FPGA will never configure. Also treat any obsolete-market purchase as suspect: request date codes and a certificate of conformance, because refurbished and relabelled FLEX 10K parts are common, and a re-marked device will fail configuration intermittently in the field.
Use the RC240 land pattern from the FLEX 10K data sheet package outline drawing, and note that the gull-wing leads are considerably easier to inspect and rework than a BGA of similar pin count - a genuine advantage for low-volume and repair-oriented production. Keep the 0.050 inch lead pitch free of solder-mask slivers between pads to avoid bridging, and route configuration signals away from high-current switching nodes. Because the device is a 3.3 V CMOS part with 189 user I/Os, series termination resistors (typically 22 ohm to 33 ohm) on long I/O traces reduce overshoot and ringing on the parallel buses these designs commonly use.
Compliance Information
No RoHS, REACH or halogen-free statement for the -2 speed grade appears in the retrieved distributor data, so these fields are reported as unknown rather than assumed. Vyrian lists the device as commercial temperature grading and the etei comparison page references RoHS/REACH status for this MPN, but does not state the values. A Pb-free 'N' suffix variant (EPF10K100ARC240-2N) is listed by cross-reference sources, which is the usual Altera indicator of a lead-free package finish; confirm against the FLEX 10K ordering information before using it in a RoHS-controlled build.
