EP4CE6F17C8N

The EP4CE6F17C8N from Intel/Altera is the smallest member of the Cyclone IV E FPGA family in a 256-pin Fine-pitch BGA package with the C8 commercial speed grade. Cyclone IV E devices are optimized for low cost and low power, targeting high-volume, cost-sensitive applications.

The EP4CE6 provides 6,272 logic elements (LEs), each containing a 4-input look-up table (LUT) and a flip-flop. The 392 logic array blocks (LABs) organize the LEs into a mesh routing architecture. With 270 Kbit of embedded memory across 30 M9K blocks (each 9,216 bits), the device supports FIFO buffers, shift registers, and ROM storage for coefficient tables.

The 15 embedded 18 x 18-bit hardware multipliers are ideal for DSP functions such as FIR filters, FFT butterflies, and motor control algorithms. Each multiplier can also be configured as two independent 9 x 9-bit multipliers for higher throughput at smaller operand widths. Maximum operating frequency for 18×18 multipliers is 200 MHz.

Two general-purpose PLLs provide clock synthesis, phase shifting, and jitter reduction. Each PLL can multiply and divide the input clock by programmable factors, generate up to three output clocks, and support dynamic phase shifting in 156 ps steps. Ten low-skew global clock networks distribute clocks throughout the device.

The 179 user I/Os are organized in 8 I/O banks, each with independent VCCIO supporting different voltage standards. Supported I/O standards include LVCMOS, LVTTL, SSTL-2, SSTL-18, HSTL-18, HSTL-15, differential SSTL, differential HSTL, and LVDS (up to 840 Mbps transmit, 875 Mbps receive). On-chip termination (OCT) with automatic calibration at power-up provides impedance matching for signal integrity.

The device supports external memory interfaces including DDR2 SDRAM (up to 200 MHz), DDR SDRAM, and QDRII SRAM through the I/O elements (IOEs) with dedicated DQS/CQ read capture circuitry.

Configuration supports Passive Serial (PS), JTAG, and Fast Passive Parallel (FPP) modes. The C8 speed grade is the fastest commercial grade, providing the best timing performance for the 0C to 85C temperature range. Design is done using Intel Quartus Prime software.

The FBGA-256 package (17 x 17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) is the only package option for EP4CE6. For applications requiring a smaller footprint, consider the EP4CE6 in the TQFP-144 package (with reduced I/O count).

**Cyclone IV E Architecture:** The EP4CE6 uses a 2D row/column-based architecture. Logic array blocks (LABs) are arranged in rows and columns across the device, connected by a multi-level routing hierarchy. Each LAB contains 16 LEs, local interconnect, and LAB control signals.

**Logic Element (LE):** Each LE contains a 4-input LUT that can implement any 4-input Boolean function, a programmable register (D flip-flop with synchronous clear, asynchronous clear/preset, and enable), carry chain for arithmetic functions, and register chain for pipelining. The LUT can also implement 3-input function plus a register in the same LE.

**M9K Memory Block:** Each M9K block provides 9,216 bits of dual-port memory, configurable as single-port, simple dual-port, true dual-port, ROM, shift register, or FIFO. Width configurations range from 1 bit (8192 depth) to 36 bits (256 depth). Optional output pipeline register improves clock frequency at the cost of one cycle latency. Maximum operating frequency is 238 MHz.

**Embedded Multiplier:** Each 18 x 18 multiplier block can perform a single 18 x 18 multiply or two independent 9 x 9 multiplies. The multiplier accepts two’s complement or unsigned inputs. Input and output registers are available for pipelining. Maximum frequency is 200 MHz for 18 x 18 and 260 MHz for 9 x 9.

**PLL:** Each PLL contains a phase-frequency detector (PFD), charge pump, loop filter, and VCO. The VCO operates from 600 MHz to 1300 MHz. Output dividers generate clocks from the VCO frequency. Features include programmable duty cycle, phase shifting, spread-spectrum clocking, and clock switchover.