Serial Configuration Devices Overview

Altera's serial configuration devices are the industry's easiest-to-use configuration devices. They are designed for maximum efficiency and offer in-system programmability (ISP) and reprogramming capabilities that are not available with one-time-programmable devices. Even with these additional capabilities, Altera's serial configuration devices are designed to offer a longer life cycle than commodity serial Flash products. This gives users a seamless source for configuration devices over the life of their systems.

Altera's serial configuration devices are the ideal complement to Cyclone^® and Arria^® series FPGAs. They also provide a low-cost, small-form-factor solution for Stratix^® series FPGAs. The serial configuration devices are offered in memory densities ranging from 1 Mb to 256 Mb, making it easy to match the optimal solution to a device's configuration needs.

Altera^® serial configuration devices utilize dedicated logic in Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria devices to implement reliable remote system updates. Stratix, Arria, and Cyclone series FPGAs feature a dedicated recovery circuitry. This circuitry guarantees "always operational" functionality by ensuring that whenever an error occurs, whether during data transmission or device configuration, Stratix series FPGAs always return to a known state to operate correctly.

Table 1 provides more information on serial configuration devices.

Serial Configuration Device	Package Offerings	Description	FPGAs Configured
*Table 1. Serial Configuration Devices*
EPCS1	8-pin small-outline integrated circuit (SOIC)	1-Mb device with 3.3-V operation	Cyclone—up to EP1C6 Cyclone II—EP2C5
EPCS4	8-pin SOIC	4-Mb device with 3.3-V operation	Stratix II—up to EP2S15 Cyclone—all Cyclone II—up to EP2C20 Cyclone III—up to EP3C25 Cyclone IV—up to 4CGX15
EPCS16	8-pin SOIC	16-Mb device with 3.3-V operation	Stratix II—up to EP2S60 Stratix II GX—up to EP2SGX60 Stratix III—up to EP3SL70 Cyclone—all Cyclone II—all Cyclone III—all Cyclone IV—up to 4CGX30
EPCS64	16-pin SOIC	64-Mb device with 3.3-V operation	Stratix IV—up to EP4SE110 and EP4SGX110 Stratix III—up to EP3SE260 Stratix II—all Stratix II GX—all Cyclone—all Cyclone II—all Cyclone III—all Cyclone IV—all Arria II GX—up to EP2AGX125
EPCS128	16-pin SOIC	128-Mb device with 3.3-V operation	Stratix V—up to EP5SGX300 Stratix IV—up to EP4SE360 and EP4SGX360 Stratix III—all Stratix II—all Stratix II GX—all Cyclone—all Cyclone II—all Cyclone III—all Cyclone IV—all Arria II GX—all

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