Intel 10CL055YF484C8G: A Comprehensive Overview of the Cyclone 10 LP FPGA

The Intel 10CL055YF484C8G is a specific member of the Cyclone 10 LP FPGA family, representing a strategic solution for designers seeking a balance of low power, cost-effectiveness, and moderate logic density. This device encapsulates Intel's (formerly Altera's) enduring commitment to providing versatile programmable logic for a wide array of applications, from industrial control to consumer electronics.

Built on a mature low-power process technology, the core strength of the Cyclone 10 LP family is its ultra-low power consumption. This makes it an ideal candidate for battery-operated or thermally sensitive applications where every milliwatt counts. Unlike its higher-performance counterparts, the Cyclone 10 LP foregoes hard intellectual property (IP) blocks like PCIe or multi-gigabit transceivers to prioritize minimal power draw and a reduced bill of materials (BOM). The device operates with a core voltage as low as 1.2V, further contributing to its energy-efficient profile.

The part number 10CL055YF484C8G provides detailed information about the device:

10CL055: Denotes the Cyclone 10 LP family with approximately 55,000 logic elements (LEs).

Y: Indicates a low-power profile.

F484: Specifies the package type (FineLine BGA) and the number of pins (484).

C8: Refers to the medium-speed grade of the device.

G: Signifies that it is a RoHS-compliant, lead-free device.

The 55K LEs provide ample resources for implementing complex logic, arithmetic functions, and state machines. Beyond the core logic fabric, the FPGA is equipped with 432 Kbits of embedded memory (M10K blocks) for data buffering and storage, and 180 18x18 multipliers for digital signal processing (DSP) tasks such as filtering, modulation, and image processing. The device features up to 333 user I/O pins, supporting a wide range of single-ended and differential I/O standards (e.g., LVCMOS, LVDS, SSTL), ensuring flexible connectivity to processors, memory, sensors, and other peripherals.

Designers leverage the Intel Quartus Prime software for the entire development flow, from synthesis and place-and-route to timing analysis and programming file generation. The extensive IP library available for Quartus Prime allows for the rapid integration of common functions like memory controllers, communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C), and processor systems (e.g., Nios II soft-core processor), significantly accelerating time-to-market.

Typical applications for the 10CL055YF484C8G include:

Industrial Automation: Motor control, sensor fusion, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Video and Image Processing: Basic image enhancement, format conversion, and display interfacing.

Communications Infrastructure: Serving as a glue logic or bridge between ASSPs and processors in network equipment.

Test and Measurement Equipment: Protocol emulation and data acquisition control.

Consumer Electronics: Automotive infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

ICGOODFIND: The Intel 10CL055YF484C8G stands as a highly optimized FPGA, masterfully balancing ultra-low power consumption, cost efficiency, and sufficient logic capacity. It is a pragmatic choice for designers whose primary constraints are energy usage and system cost, without sacrificing the flexibility and parallel processing power inherent to FPGA technology.

Keywords: Low Power Consumption, Cost-Optimized FPGA, 55K Logic Elements, Intel Cyclone 10 LP, Embedded Multipliers