10M16SAU169I7G Datasheet, Specifications & Application Guide | Intel MAX 10 FPGA

1. 10M16SAU169I7G Overview

The 10M16SAU169I7G is a non-volatile FPGA from Intel's (formerly Altera) MAX 10 family, built on a 55 nm flash process. It integrates 16,000 logic elements, embedded flash memory, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and DSP blocks into a compact 169-pin UBGA package. This single-chip solution eliminates the need for external configuration memory, reducing board space and bill-of-materials cost. The "I7G" suffix denotes the industrial temperature grade (-40 °C to +100 °C), making it suitable for harsh-environment deployments in factory automation, motor control, and communication infrastructure.

As part of the MAX 10 family, the 10M16SAU169I7G supports instant-on operation with internal configuration storage, dual configuration images for remote system upgrade, and user flash memory (UFM) for data logging. It is fully supported by the Intel Quartus Prime design suite and is pin-compatible with other MAX 10 devices in the U169 package, enabling scalable designs across different density options.

2. Key Specifications & Parameters

3. Pinout & Package Information

The 10M16SAU169I7G is housed in a 169-ball Ultra Fine-Line BGA (UBGA) package measuring 11 mm x 11 mm with a 0.8 mm ball pitch. This compact form factor is ideal for space-constrained designs. The device provides 130 user I/O pins organized across multiple I/O banks, supporting a variety of voltage standards from 1.2 V to 3.3 V. Dedicated configuration pins, JTAG boundary-scan pins, and power/ground pins complete the pinout.

10M16SAU169I7G in 169-UBGA package (11 x 11 mm)

Key pinout features include four I/O banks with independent VCCIO supplies, dedicated clock input pins supporting up to four PLLs, and analog input pins for the integrated 12-bit ADC. The JTAG interface (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) enables in-system programming and debug. For detailed pin assignments, consult the MAX 10 Pin-Out Files available from the wwdparts FPGA collection.

4. Architecture & Block Diagram

The MAX 10 architecture integrates logic, memory, DSP, analog, and configuration resources on a single die. At its core are 1,000 Logic Array Blocks (LABs), each containing 16 adaptive logic elements with 4-input look-up tables (LUTs) and dedicated carry chains. Embedded memory blocks provide 549 Kb of dual-port RAM configurable as M9K blocks. The 45 embedded 18x18 multipliers enable efficient DSP operations for filtering, signal processing, and mathematical computations.

MAX 10 FPGA system architecture and resource diagram

Four PLLs provide flexible clock management with frequency synthesis, phase shifting, and spread-spectrum clocking. The integrated 12-bit ADC supports up to 18 analog input channels at 1 MSPS, ideal for sensor interfacing and power monitoring without external ADC ICs. Internal flash memory stores up to two configuration images, enabling instant-on operation and secure remote field updates. The user flash memory (UFM) offers non-volatile storage for calibration data, encryption keys, or application parameters.

5. Typical Applications & Circuit Design

The 10M16SAU169I7G is widely used in industrial, communications, and embedded applications where non-volatile, instant-on FPGA functionality is critical. Common use cases include:

• Industrial Motor Control: PWM generation, encoder interfaces, and real-time control loops using embedded multipliers
• Sensor Hub / IoT Gateway: Integrated ADC for direct sensor acquisition, I/O bridging, and protocol conversion
• Communication Infrastructure: SPI/I2C/UART protocol bridges, LED matrix drivers, and display controllers
• Power Management: Sequencing control, voltage monitoring via the built-in ADC, and system health reporting
• Prototyping & Education: Low-cost FPGA development with the MAX 10 evaluation boards available at wwdparts

MAX 10 FPGA evaluation board for rapid prototyping

The instant-on configuration eliminates boot delays, which is essential for safety-critical and real-time systems. Dual-image configuration supports fail-safe remote updates - if a new configuration image fails, the device automatically reverts to the golden image. For design resources and reference schematics, visit the wwdparts technical blog.

Video Tutorial: Getting Started with MAX 10 FPGA

6. Ordering & Availability

The 10M16SAU169I7G is available from authorized distributors worldwide. When ordering, verify the full part number to ensure the correct temperature grade (I = Industrial, C = Commercial) and speed grade (7). Key ordering details:

For competitive pricing and guaranteed authentic stock, check the wwdparts.com inventory or contact our sales team for volume quotes and lead time estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)