10M16SAU169I7G Datasheet, Specifications & Application Guide – Altera MAX 10 FPGA

The 10M16SAU169I7G is a non-volatile FPGA from the Altera (Intel) MAX 10 family, built on a 55 nm process node. Featuring 16,000 logic elements, an integrated dual 12-bit ADC, and internal flash configuration memory, this device delivers instant-on capability and single-chip mixed-signal integration in a compact 169-ball UBGA package. It is widely deployed in industrial automation, IoT edge processing, motor control, and medical instrumentation applications where low power, small form factor, and analog front-end consolidation are critical.

1. Overview of the 10M16SAU169I7G

The 10M16SAU169I7G belongs to the Intel (formerly Altera) MAX 10 FPGA family, which combines the benefits of non-volatile flash-based configuration with true FPGA logic flexibility. The part number decodes as follows: 10M16 = MAX 10 with 16K logic elements, S = single power-supply, A = analog block (ADC) enabled, U169 = 169-ball UBGA package, I = industrial temperature range (−40 °C to +100 °C), and 7 = speed grade 7.

Unlike SRAM-based FPGAs that require an external configuration device, the MAX 10 stores its bitstream in on-chip flash, enabling instant-on operation in under 10 ms. The integrated dual 12-bit successive-approximation ADC with up to 18 analog input channels eliminates the need for external ADC chips in many mixed-signal designs. This makes the 10M16SAU169I7G an ideal candidate for consolidating discrete analog and digital functions onto a single chip, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.

Development is fully supported by the free Quartus Prime Lite Edition, which provides synthesis, place-and-route, timing analysis, and JTAG/in-system programming for all MAX 10 devices.

2. Key Specifications & Parameters

3. Block Diagram & Architecture

The MAX 10 architecture integrates programmable logic, embedded memory, DSP blocks, PLLs, a user flash memory block, and a dual ADC into a monolithic 55 nm device. The diagram below illustrates the high-level functional blocks of the 10M16SAU169I7G.

Key architectural highlights include:

• Logic Array Blocks (LABs): 1,000 LABs, each containing 16 adaptive logic modules (ALMs) providing fine-grained combinational and sequential logic.
• M9K Memory Blocks: 549 Kb of embedded SRAM organized in 9-Kbit blocks, configurable as single-port RAM, dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO buffers.
• DSP Blocks: 45 embedded 18×18 multipliers supporting multiply-accumulate operations for filtering, signal processing, and arithmetic-intensive functions.
• Dual ADC: Two independent 12-bit SAR ADCs sharing up to 18 analog input channels, with a dedicated analog hard IP block for temperature sensing and voltage monitoring.
• Configuration Flash: On-chip flash stores up to two configuration images, enabling remote update with a safe fallback image.

4. Pinout & Package Information

The 10M16SAU169I7G is housed in a 169-ball UBGA (Ultra-thin Ball Grid Array) package with a compact 11 × 11 mm body and 0.8 mm ball pitch. The package provides 130 user I/O pins organized across multiple I/O banks supporting a wide range of single-ended and differential I/O standards.

I/O banks support voltage levels from 1.0 V to 3.3 V, enabling direct interfacing with 3.3 V legacy peripherals, 2.5 V sensors, 1.8 V DDR memory, and 1.5 V SSTL logic without external level shifters. LVDS differential pairs are available for high-speed serial communication up to 875 Mbps.

For PCB design, Altera provides the complete pin-out CSV file and board design guidelines in the MAX 10 FPGA Device Pin-Out document, and footprint symbols are available through SnapEDA and the Quartus device migration tool.

5. Typical Applications & Design Guide

The 10M16SAU169I7G's combination of instant-on capability, integrated ADC, and moderate logic density makes it a versatile choice for a broad range of embedded applications.

Industrial Automation & Motor Control

The integrated ADC samples current and voltage feedback for real-time motor control loops, while the FPGA logic implements PWM generation, encoder interfaces, and safety interlocks — all on a single chip replacing discrete ADCs and MCUs.

IoT Edge Gateway & Sensor Hub

With instant-on boot and low standby power, the MAX 10 is ideal for battery-powered or always-on IoT gateways that aggregate data from multiple sensors, perform local preprocessing (filtering, threshold detection), and forward compressed data to cloud platforms.

Video & Image Pre-Processing

The 45 DSP blocks and 549 Kb of embedded RAM enable real-time pixel manipulation such as color-space conversion, edge detection, and histogram computation for surveillance cameras or machine vision front-ends.

Medical Instrumentation

The dual ADC and deterministic FPGA timing support multi-channel physiological signal acquisition (ECG, EEG, SpO2), while the non-volatile configuration eliminates boot-time uncertainty in safety-critical patient monitoring equipment.

Development Ecosystem

Prototyping is streamlined by the Terasic DE10-Lite development board, which integrates a MAX 10 10M50DAF484C7G FPGA with SDRAM, VGA output, accelerometer, Arduino headers, and an on-board USB-Blaster programmer — all supported by the free Quartus Prime Lite Edition.

Video Tutorial – MAX 10 FPGA ADC Design

6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

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