Lattice LCMXO256C-4TN100C: A Comprehensive Technical Overview of the Low-Cost, Low-Power FPGA

In the diverse landscape of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), finding the optimal balance between cost, power, and capability is a constant engineering challenge. The Lattice LCMXO256C-4TN100C, a member of the ultra-low-power Lattice MachXO™ family, stands out as a compelling solution designed for a wide array of control-oriented and low-density applications. This article provides a detailed technical overview of this versatile device.

Architectural Foundation and Core Features

At its heart, the LCMXO256C is built on a proven, non-volatile technology base. This fundamental choice eliminates the need for an external boot PROM, simplifying board design and reducing the overall Bill of Materials (BOM). The device features 256 Look-Up Tables (LUTs), which serve as the basic building blocks for implementing custom logic functions. This logic density is ideally suited for tasks like interfacing, bus bridging, power management sequencing, and system control.

The "-4TN100C" suffix provides critical information: the "-4" denotes a maximum performance grade of 4, indicating its speed capability; "TN" signifies a 100-pin Thin Quad Flat Pack (TQFP) package, which is easy to prototype and manufacture using standard PCB processes; and "C" represents the commercial temperature range (0°C to 85°C).

Emphasis on Low Power Consumption

A defining characteristic of this FPGA is its extremely low static and dynamic power consumption. Leveraging Lattice's advanced 65nm non-volatile process technology, the device draws minimal current during idle states. This makes it an exceptional candidate for battery-powered, portable, and always-on applications where every milliwatt counts. The instant-on capability, inherent to its non-volatile architecture, allows the system to become operational immediately upon power-up, a critical feature for many control applications.

I/O Capabilities and Flexibility

The device boasts 74 user I/O pins (in the TN100 package), offering substantial connectivity for a chip of its size. These I/Os are highly flexible, supporting a wide range of single-ended and differential I/O standards, including LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, and LVDS. This flexibility allows the LCMXO256C to act as a "universal glue logic" chip, seamlessly interfacing between processors, ASICs, memory, and various peripherals operating at different voltage levels.

Embedded Memory and On-Chip Clocking

For on-chip data storage and buffering, the FPGA includes 7.5 Kbits of embedded block RAM (EBR). This memory can be configured as single-port or dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO buffers. The device is supported by a robust clocking infrastructure featuring two primary clock sources and a programmable sysCLOCK® PLL. This PLL allows for clock multiplication, division, and phase shifting, enabling precise clock management and synthesis from a single, lower-frequency external source.

Target Applications

The combination of low cost, low power, and sufficient logic resources opens doors to numerous applications:

System Management: Power sequencing, voltage level translation, and microcontroller peripheral expansion.

Motor Control: Implementing control algorithms for small brushed and brushless DC motors.

Communications Bridge: Interfacing between I²C, SPI, UART, and other serial protocols.

Consumer Electronics: Used in portable devices for sensor aggregation, power management, and interface bridging.

Industrial Control: Serving as a programmable logic controller for simple automation tasks.

ICGOOODFIND

The Lattice LCMXO256C-4TN100C is a highly optimized FPGA that successfully delivers a potent mix of ultra-low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and sufficient programmability. Its non-volatile architecture, small form factor, and robust I/O make it an invaluable tool for engineers looking to add flexible logic without compromising on power budgets or system cost. For control-oriented designs where a microcontroller might be insufficient and a larger FPGA is overkill, this device represents an ideal "just right" solution.

Keywords:

1. Low-Power FPGA

2. Non-Volatile

3. MachXO

4. Cost-Effective

5. System Control