Lattice LCMXO2-4000HC-6QN84I: A Comprehensive Technical Overview of the Low-Power FPGA
In the realm of programmable logic, the demand for flexible, low-power, and cost-effective solutions continues to grow across a wide array of applications, from consumer electronics to industrial control systems. The Lattice LCMXO2-4000HC-6QN84I stands as a prominent member of the Lattice MachXO2™ family, engineered specifically to meet these critical requirements. This FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) combines a non-volatile, instant-on architecture with remarkably low power consumption, making it an ideal choice for bridging, control, and system management functions.
At the core of this device is its advanced 65nm non-volatile CMOS technology, which eliminates the need for an external boot PROM and enables instantaneous operation upon power-up. The "4000" in its nomenclature denotes 4320 Look-Up Tables (LUTs), providing a substantial logic density for implementing complex digital circuits. This capacity allows designers to integrate numerous functions, such as state machines, counters, and data processing units, into a single, compact package.
The device is housed in a 6mm x 6mm, 84-pin QFN (Quad Flat No-leads) package, identified by the suffix 6QN84I. This small form factor is crucial for space-constrained applications, offering a robust physical interface with good thermal performance. The "I" suffix indicates that the device is qualified for an industrial temperature range, typically from -40°C to 100°C, ensuring reliable operation in harsh environments.
A key highlight of the MachXO2 series, and this device in particular, is its ultra-low static power consumption, often measured in microamps (µA). This feature is paramount for battery-operated and always-on applications where energy efficiency is a primary design constraint. The architecture supports 1.2V core voltage operation with 3.3V, 2.5V, 1.8V, or 1.2V bank-level programmability for its I/O, offering tremendous flexibility in interfacing with other components in a system.
Beyond raw logic, the LCMXO2-4000HC is rich in embedded memory and hardened system blocks. It contains 92 Kbits of embedded block RAM (EBR) and up to 53 Kbits of distributed RAM, facilitating efficient data buffering and storage. Furthermore, it features two Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) for advanced clock management, allowing for clock multiplication, division, and phase shifting to meet precise timing requirements.
The device also includes pre-engineered hardened functions that accelerate development and save logic resources. These include a user-flash memory (UFM) block and I²C, SPI, and timer/counter functions that can be implemented without using general-purpose LUTs. This system-level integration simplifies design and reduces time-to-market.
For development, Lattice provides the free Lattice Diamond® and Lattice Radiant® design software suites, which offer a complete environment for design entry, synthesis, place-and-route, and verification, fully supporting the MachXO2 family.
ICGOOODFIND: The Lattice LCMXO2-4000HC-6QN84I is a highly integrated, low-power FPGA that excels in providing high logic density, instant-on capability, and exceptional power efficiency in a miniature package. It is a superior solution for designers aiming to add programmable intelligence to power-sensitive and space-limited applications without compromising on performance or reliability.
Keywords: Low-Power FPGA, Non-Volatile, Instant-On, MachXO2, QFN Package.
