EP4CE10E22C8N Datasheet, Pinout, Equivalents, and Specs
The EP4CE10E22C8N is an FPGA from Intel's (formerly Altera) Cyclone IV E family, fabricated on a 60 nm low-power process with a 1.2 V core supply. It integrates 10,320 logic elements, 414 Kbit of embedded M9K SRAM, 23 embedded 18×18 multipliers, and 2 PLLs in a compact 144-pin EQFP package. With 91 user I/O pins and commercial-grade operation (0 °C to 85 °C), the EP4CE10E22C8N targets cost-sensitive embedded, industrial, and prototyping applications where moderate logic density and low power consumption are paramount.
What Is the EP4CE10E22C8N?
The EP4CE10E22C8N belongs to the Cyclone IV E family — the fourth generation of Altera's low-cost FPGA line launched in 2009. The part number decodes as follows: "EP4CE10" indicates the 10,320-LE density variant of the Cyclone IV E series, "E22" identifies the 144-pin EQFP package option, "C8" denotes commercial-grade silicon at speed grade 8, and the trailing "N" signifies RoHS-compliant lead-free terminations.
Internally, the device organizes its 10,320 logic elements into 645 Logic Array Blocks (LABs), each containing 16 adaptive LEs. Every LE includes a four-input look-up table (LUT), a programmable register, carry chain logic, and register chain connections — enabling efficient implementation of both combinational and sequential functions. The MultiTrack interconnect architecture uses DirectDrive technology with continuous routing lines of varying lengths to achieve fast, predictable signal propagation across the die.
The 46 M9K embedded memory blocks provide 414 Kbit of dual-port SRAM, each configurable as single-port RAM, simple dual-port, true dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO buffers at up to 260 MHz. The 23 embedded 18×18 multipliers support DSP operations, with each block capable of implementing one 18×18 or two independent 9×9 multiplications. Two general-purpose PLLs deliver clock synthesis, multiplication, division, and phase shifting across 10 global clock networks.
Pinout Configuration and Packaging
The EP4CE10E22C8N is housed in a 144-pin EQFP (Exposed Quad Flat Package) with a 20×20 mm body, 0.5 mm lead pitch, and an exposed thermal pad on the underside. The exposed pad serves as the primary ground connection and must be soldered to the PCB ground plane for proper electrical and thermal performance. Of the 144 pins, 91 are available as user I/O, distributed across four independent I/O banks.
Each I/O bank supports an independent VCCIO supply rail, enabling mixed-voltage interfacing within a single device. The I/O element (IOE) architecture supports multiple single-ended standards — LVTTL (3.3 V), LVCMOS (1.2 V to 3.3 V), SSTL-2, SSTL-18, and HSTL — along with differential LVDS, mini-LVDS, RSDS, LVPECL, BLVDS, and PPDS. PCI and PCI-X compliance is supported for 33 MHz and 66 MHz bus operation.
The E22 package provides seven dedicated clock input pins (three on the left side, four on the right side) that connect directly to the global clock networks and PLLs. Configuration pins support Active Serial (AS) mode using an EPCS serial configuration device, Passive Serial (PS), and JTAG via the IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan port. The MSEL[1:0] pins determine the configuration scheme at power-up.
Specifications Parameter Table
| Specification | Technical Details |
|---|---|
| Device Family | Cyclone IV E (Intel / Altera) |
| Process Node | 60 nm low-power CMOS |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 10,320 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 645 |
| M9K Memory Blocks | 46 |
| Total Embedded RAM | 414 Kbit |
| Embedded 18×18 Multipliers | 23 |
| PLLs | 2 (5 outputs per PLL) |
| Global Clock Networks | 10 |
| User I/O Pins | 91 |
| I/O Banks | 4 |
| Package | 144-EQFP (20×20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch, exposed pad) |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.15 V to 1.25 V (nominal 1.2 V) |
| Max I/O Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.6 V |
| Clock Network Performance (C8) | 402 MHz |
| Speed Grade | C8 (Commercial, 0 °C to 85 °C) |
| I/O Standards | LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL-2, SSTL-18, HSTL, LVDS, PCI, PCI-X |
| External Memory Interfaces | DDR, DDR2, SDR SDRAM |
| Configuration Modes | Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), JTAG |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes (lead-free, "N" suffix) |
Typical Applications and Circuit Considerations
The EP4CE10E22C8N is designed for cost-sensitive applications requiring moderate programmable logic density with low power consumption. Its combination of over 10,000 LEs, embedded RAM and multipliers, and versatile I/O makes it suitable for a wide range of designs:
- Industrial Control and Motor Drive: The FPGA's deterministic timing and parallel processing capability enable implementation of multi-axis servo controllers, PLC coprocessors, and custom protocol converters. The 23 embedded multipliers accelerate PID loop calculations and sensor signal processing without consuming general-purpose logic.
- Communications Protocol Bridging: With 91 I/O pins supporting diverse voltage standards, the EP4CE10E22C8N serves as a flexible glue-logic and protocol-translation bridge between processors and peripheral subsystems — implementing SPI-to-parallel conversion, UART multiplexing, or custom serial engines.
- Embedded DSP and Signal Processing: The 23 multiplier blocks support applications such as FIR/IIR filtering, FFT computation, and baseband signal processing. Quartus Prime includes optimized DSP IP cores (FIR Compiler, FFT, NCO) that efficiently map to the Cyclone IV E multiplier architecture.
- Education and Prototyping: The EP4CE10E22C8N is widely used on low-cost development boards for FPGA education. Free Quartus Prime Lite support, a soldering-friendly TQFP-144 package, and numerous open-source example designs make it an accessible entry point for digital design learning.
- Video and Display Interface: With sufficient I/O and logic resources, the device can drive VGA displays, implement simple HDMI transmitters, or serve as a framebuffer controller for industrial HMI panels.
For power supply design, Altera recommends separate decoupling for VCCINT (1.2 V core), VCCIO (per-bank), and VCCA (PLL analog supply). Each VCC pin should have a 0.1 µF ceramic capacitor placed as close to the pin as possible, supplemented by bulk capacitors of 10–47 µF per rail. The exposed pad must be connected to ground on the PCB with adequate via stitching. Browse Cyclone IV Series components for related power management and configuration ICs.
Video Tutorial
Equivalents, Cross-Reference, and Lifecycle
The EP4CE10E22C8N remains in active production status as of 2026, though the Cyclone IV E family is classified as a mature product line by Intel. For designs requiring long-term availability assurance, consider these alternatives:
- EP4CE6E22C8N: Pin-to-pin compatible in the same 144-EQFP package with reduced resources (6,272 LEs, 276 Kbit RAM, 15 multipliers). Ideal for cost-down when logic utilization permits.
- EP4CE15E22C8N: Upward migration path offering 15,408 LEs in the same 144-EQFP package. Pin-compatible for designs requiring more logic headroom.
- 10M08SAE144C8G (MAX 10): Intel's newer non-volatile FPGA family in 55 nm. The 10M08 offers 8,000 LEs with integrated flash configuration (no external EPCS required) and an internal oscillator, though the pinout differs from Cyclone IV.
When sourcing the EP4CE10E22C8N, verify the full ordering code — the "C8" suffix indicates commercial temperature range and speed grade 8; industrial variants use "I7" (EP4CE10E22I7N) with extended -40 °C to 100 °C operation. Check EP4CE10E22C8N Inventory & Pricing for current stock and lead times. Also see our catalog of Intel FPGA and programmable logic devices for cross-compatible alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions (EP4CE10E22C8N FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between EP4CE10E22C8N and EP4CE6E22C8N?
A: Both belong to the Cyclone IV E family and share the same 144-EQFP package and pinout, but the EP4CE10E22C8N offers 10,320 logic elements versus 6,272 in the EP4CE6E22C8N. The EP4CE10 also provides more embedded memory (414 Kbit vs. 276 Kbit) and additional multiplier blocks (23 vs. 15). Pin-to-pin compatibility between the two simplifies design migration when more logic resources are needed without PCB changes.
Q: What development tools are required to program the EP4CE10E22C8N?
A: The EP4CE10E22C8N is programmed using Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition, which is available as a free download with no license restrictions for Cyclone IV devices. Design entry supports both Verilog and VHDL. A USB Blaster or USB Blaster II JTAG programmer is required for configuration. ModelSim-Intel FPGA Edition handles functional and timing simulation. The device can also be configured in Active Serial (AS) mode using an EPCS4 or EPCS16 serial configuration ROM for autonomous boot-up.
Q: What is the maximum operating frequency of the EP4CE10E22C8N?
A: The EP4CE10E22C8N carries speed grade C8, the most cost-effective of three commercial grades. Its global clock network performance reaches 402 MHz. The faster C7 and C6 speed grades achieve 437.5 MHz and 500 MHz respectively. Actual achievable register-to-register frequency depends on design complexity, routing congestion, and timing constraints applied during Quartus compilation. Using TimeQuest Timing Analyzer during design closure is essential for meeting timing targets.
Q: What I/O voltage standards does the EP4CE10E22C8N support?
A: The EP4CE10E22C8N supports a comprehensive range of I/O standards including 3.3 V / 2.5 V / 1.8 V / 1.5 V / 1.2 V LVCMOS, 3.0 V / 3.3 V LVTTL, SSTL-2 and SSTL-18 for DDR/DDR2 SDRAM interfaces, HSTL for high-speed memory, differential LVDS at up to 640 Mbps, mini-LVDS, RSDS, LVPECL, BLVDS, and PPDS. The four independent I/O banks each accept their own VCCIO supply, enabling mixed-voltage designs within a single device.
Q: Can the EP4CE10E22C8N interface with DDR2 SDRAM?
A: Yes. The Cyclone IV E family supports external memory interfaces for DDR, DDR2, and SDR SDRAM. Quartus Prime includes the ALTMEMPHY megafunction to generate optimized DDR/DDR2 memory controllers with proper calibration and leveling. In the E22 (144-pin) package, the available DQS-capable pins support up to an 8-bit DDR2 data interface. For wider memory buses, consider the EP4CE10 in larger packages such as the F256 or U256.
Q: What is the power consumption of the EP4CE10E22C8N?
A: Static (quiescent) power consumption at 85 °C junction temperature is typically around 45–55 mW. Dynamic power depends heavily on the specific design — toggle rate, clock frequency, logic utilization, and I/O switching activity all contribute. Intel provides the PowerPlay Early Power Estimator (EPE) spreadsheet for pre-design power budgeting and the Quartus Prime Power Analyzer for post-compilation accuracy. The 1.2 V core supply and 60 nm process keep total power well below 500 mW for most typical designs, making the device suitable for portable and thermally constrained applications.
Alan Carter
Senior Hardware Engineer & Component Specialist
Alan has over 15 years of expertise in embedded systems design, FPGA architecture, and global semiconductor supply chains. He specializes in component cross-referencing, lifecycle management, and helping OEMs navigate supply shortages.
