Intel 5CEBA4F17I7N: A Deep Dive into the Mid-Range Cyclone V FPGA
In the diverse landscape of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), the Cyclone V family from Intel (formerly Altera) has established itself as a cornerstone for cost-sensitive, power-conscious applications. Among its members, the 5CEBA4F17I7N represents a compelling mid-range option, skillfully balancing processing capability, power efficiency, and system integration. This article delves into the architecture, key features, and typical applications of this versatile FPGA.
At its core, the 5CEBA4F17I7N is built on a 28nm low-power process technology. This foundational choice is critical, as it enables the device to achieve a notable balance between performance and power consumption, a key requirement for modern embedded systems. The device belongs to the Cyclone V E variant, which emphasizes logic density and general-purpose functionality.
The architecture is centered around the HardCopy®-based Logic Array Block (LAB) structure, which provides efficient and predictable performance. The "5CEBA4" prefix indicates a logic element (LE) count of approximately 49K, placing it firmly in the mid-density range. This capacity is sufficient for implementing complex state machines, data path control, and various processing algorithms, making it a workhorse for numerous designs.
A significant advantage of the Cyclone V family, and this device in particular, is its high level of system-level integration. Beyond the programmable fabric, the 5CEBA4F17I7N incorporates hardened intellectual property (IP) blocks that drastically reduce board space and component count. Most notably, it can feature a hardened dual-core ARM® Cortex®-A9 MPCore™ processor, known as the Hard Processor System (HPS). This transforms the FPGA from a pure programmable logic device into a complete System-on-Chip (SoC) FPGA, where the ARM cores can run operating systems like Linux to manage complex software tasks while the FPGA fabric handles dedicated hardware acceleration, I/O interfacing, and real-time processing.
Further enhancing its integration are embedded peripherals such as memory controllers (DDR2/3), PCI Express® Gen2 roots, and a rich set of general-purpose I/Os. The "F17" in its name specifies the package type (FBGA) and pin count (896), offering a substantial number of connections for interfacing with external memories, sensors, and communication interfaces.
The "I7" suffix denotes the industrial-grade temperature range (-40°C to 100°C Tj), making the 5CEBA4F17I7N exceptionally suited for harsh environments found in industrial automation, automotive, communications, and aerospace applications. Its low static and dynamic power makes it ideal for portable or fanless systems.
Typical applications leveraging its strengths include:
Industrial Motor Control and PLCs: The FPGA fabric provides precise, deterministic control for multiple motors.
Automotive Driver Assistance Systems: The SoC capabilities allow for sensor fusion (e.g., camera and radar data) on a single chip.
Communications Infrastructure: Used for packet processing, interface bridging, and error correction in base stations and network appliances.
Video and Image Processing: Implementing custom image pipelines, overlays, and format conversions.
ICGOOFIND: The Intel 5CEBA4F17I7N stands as a testament to the power of integration, offering a robust blend of programmable logic, a hardened application-class processor, and low power consumption. It remains a highly relevant and powerful solution for developers aiming to consolidate complex system architectures into a single, reliable chip for industrial and embedded markets.
Keywords: Cyclone V FPGA, Hard Processor System (HPS), System-on-Chip (SoC), Low-Power 28nm, Industrial Temperature Grade
