A54SX16-TQ176

Overview

The A54SX16-TQ176 is a Field Programmable Gate Array from the Actel SX-A family, fabricated using 0.22 μm / 0.25 μm CMOS antifuse technology. It provides 1,452 logic modules and 24,000 system gates within a 176-pin Thin Quad Flat Pack (TQFP) package. The device supports up to 147 user-programmable I/O pins and features three global clock networks. Internal performance reaches 350 MHz with a maximum system frequency of 250 MHz. It operates at 2.5 V, 3.3 V, or 5.0 V with mixed-voltage support and includes hot-swap compliant I/Os.

Feature Summary

• Nonvolatile single-chip solution utilizing metal-to-metal programmable antifuse interconnect elements for permanent low-impedance connections.
• Supports 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5.0 V mixed-voltage operation with configurable I/O standards including 5 V PCI, 5 V TTL, 3.3 V LVTTL, and 2.5 V LVCMOS2.
• Hot-swap compliant I/Os allow insertion into electrically active systems without degrading host reliability or requiring specific power sequencing.
• Includes unique in-system diagnostic and verification capability via Silicon Explorer II and boundary-scan testing compliant with IEEE Standard 1149.1.

Applications

• High-speed data acquisition systems requiring deterministic timing and fast pin-to-pin propagation.
• PCI-compliant embedded controllers and interface bridges operating at 66 MHz.
• Secure hardware designs requiring protection against reverse engineering through FuseLock technology.

Procurement Notes

Verify the specific speed grade suffix required for the target application timing constraints, as standard and faster grades exist. Confirm temperature range compatibility, noting that commercial, industrial, and military options are available within the TQ176 package. Ensure the design accounts for the nonvolatile nature of the antifuse architecture, which does not support reprogramming once configured.

Selection Notes

Select this device when a nonvolatile FPGA with high-density logic and mixed-voltage I/O capabilities is required. The 176-pin TQFP package offers a balance between pin count and physical footprint. Consider the internal 350 MHz performance for complex state machines or data path logic where deterministic timing is critical compared to volatile SRAM-based FPGAs.

Part Context

This component belongs to the Actel SX-A family of FPGAs, which utilizes antifuse technology for nonvolatile configuration. The family ranges from 8,000 to 108,000 system gates. The A54SX16A variant specifically targets mid-range applications requiring significant logic resources while maintaining low power consumption and high performance through its sea-of-modules architecture.

Replacement Considerations

Direct replacements within the same package and pinout include other speed grades of the A54SX16A series, such as A54SX16-1TQ176 or A54SX16-2TQ176, provided timing requirements are met. Cross-family migration to Microchip PolarFire or IGLOO devices requires schematic redesign due to different configuration architectures and I/O structures.