The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is a high-performance field-programmable gate array (FPGA) from Xilinx’s XC4000XLA series, now part of the AMD portfolio. Designed for commercial-temperature applications, this device offers 28,000 logic gates in a compact 240-pin HQFP package, making it an ideal choice for digital logic design, embedded processing, and custom hardware acceleration. Whether you are prototyping a new design or sourcing for production, the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C delivers reliable, reprogrammable logic in a proven platform.
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What Is the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C?
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C belongs to Xilinx’s XC4000XLA family — an advanced, low-voltage evolution of the classic XC4000 architecture. The “XLA” suffix denotes the extended low-power, low-voltage variant, operating at 3.3V core voltage. This part number breaks down as follows:
| Part Number Segment |
Meaning |
| XC4028 |
28,000 equivalent logic gate capacity |
| XLA |
Extended Low-voltage Architecture (3.3V) |
| -09 |
Speed grade: –9 ns pin-to-pin logic delay |
| HQ240 |
240-pin Plastic HQFP (Heat-Slug Quad Flat Pack) package |
| C |
Commercial temperature range (0°C to +85°C) |
Key Specifications at a Glance
| Parameter |
Value |
| Manufacturer |
Xilinx (AMD) |
| Part Number |
XC4028XLA-09HQ240C |
| Logic Gates |
28,000 (equivalent) |
| Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) |
784 |
| Flip-Flops / Registers |
~3,136 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins |
192 |
| Package |
240-pin HQFP (Heat-Slug Quad Flat Pack) |
| Package Dimensions |
28 mm × 28 mm body |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCC) |
3.3V |
| I/O Voltage |
3.3V (5V tolerant inputs) |
| Speed Grade |
–9 (9 ns pin-to-pin delay) |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to +85°C (Commercial) |
| Configuration Interface |
Serial / Parallel (JTAG IEEE 1149.1) |
| RAM Bits (on-chip) |
Up to 25,088 bits (distributed) |
| Technology Node |
0.35 µm CMOS |
XC4028XLA-09HQ240C Detailed Features
Configurable Logic Architecture
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is built on Xilinx’s proven CLB (Configurable Logic Block) architecture. Each CLB contains:
- Two 4-input look-up tables (LUTs) capable of implementing any Boolean function of up to 4 variables
- Two flip-flops that can be independently configured as D-type flip-flops or latches
- Dedicated carry logic for fast arithmetic operations
- Wide function multiplexers enabling efficient implementation of large functions
This architecture makes the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C well-suited for both combinational and sequential logic designs, from simple glue logic to complex state machines and datapaths.
On-Chip Memory (Distributed RAM)
One of the key advantages of the XC4000XLA family is the ability to use CLB LUTs as distributed RAM. The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C supports:
| Memory Configuration |
Depth × Width |
Total Bits per CLB |
| Single-port RAM |
16 × 2 |
32 bits |
| Dual-port RAM |
16 × 1 |
16 bits |
| Shift Register |
16 × 1 |
16 bits |
This distributed memory approach eliminates the need for external SRAM in many embedded applications, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.
Clock Management and Global Networks
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C features four global clock buffers and dedicated clock routing for low-skew, high-fanout clock distribution across the entire device. This ensures:
- Minimal clock skew across all flip-flops
- Support for multiple independent clock domains
- Compatibility with DLL (Delay-Locked Loop) clock management in higher-density XC4000 variants
I/O Capabilities
| I/O Feature |
Specification |
| Total User I/O Pins |
192 |
| I/O Standards Supported |
LVCMOS 3.3V, TTL (5V-tolerant inputs) |
| Output Drive Strength |
Programmable (2 mA to 24 mA) |
| Slew Rate Control |
Fast / Slow (programmable) |
| Pull-up / Pull-down |
Programmable on all I/O pins |
| 3-State Output |
Supported on all I/O pins |
| JTAG Boundary Scan |
IEEE 1149.1 compliant |
Configuration Options
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C supports multiple configuration modes to suit different system architectures:
| Configuration Mode |
Description |
| Master Serial |
FPGA acts as bus master; reads from serial PROM |
| Slave Serial |
External processor controls configuration byte-by-byte |
| Master Parallel (Byte-wide) |
Fast parallel configuration from parallel PROM |
| Peripheral (Byte-wide) |
Microprocessor-driven parallel configuration |
| JTAG (Boundary Scan) |
In-circuit programming and debugging via IEEE 1149.1 |
Package Information: 240-Pin HQFP
The HQFP (Heat-Slug Quad Flat Pack) package used by the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C provides an integrated thermal slug for improved heat dissipation compared to standard QFP packages.
| Package Attribute |
Value |
| Package Type |
HQFP (Plastic Heat-Slug Quad Flat Pack) |
| Total Pins |
240 |
| Pitch |
0.5 mm |
| Body Size |
28 mm × 28 mm |
| Height (max) |
3.4 mm |
| Mounting |
Surface Mount (SMD) |
| Lead Finish |
Tin/Lead (SnPb) or RoHS-compliant options |
The 0.5 mm pin pitch requires careful PCB design practices including adequate solder mask defined pads, controlled impedance traces for high-speed I/O, and proper decoupling capacitor placement.
Operating Conditions and Electrical Characteristics
Absolute Maximum Ratings
| Parameter |
Min |
Max |
Unit |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) |
–0.5 |
+4.0 |
V |
| Input Voltage |
–0.5 |
VCC + 0.5 |
V |
| Storage Temperature |
–65 |
+150 |
°C |
Recommended Operating Conditions
| Parameter |
Min |
Typical |
Max |
Unit |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCC) |
3.0 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCO) |
3.0 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
V |
| Operating Temperature |
0 |
25 |
+85 |
°C |
| Quiescent Current (IccQ) |
— |
15 |
35 |
mA |
Speed Performance (Commercial Grade –9)
| Timing Parameter |
Value |
| Pin-to-pin logic delay (tPD) |
9 ns (max) |
| CLB-to-CLB routing delay |
~4–6 ns (typical) |
| Clock-to-output delay (tCO) |
~5 ns (typical) |
| Setup time (tS) |
~4 ns (typical) |
| Maximum toggle frequency |
>100 MHz (internal logic) |
XC4028XLA-09HQ240C vs. Similar Xilinx Devices
| Parameter |
XC4028XLA-09HQ240C |
XC4028XLA-09HQ240I |
XC4013XLA-09HQ240C |
XC4036XLA-09HQ240C |
| Logic Gates |
28,000 |
28,000 |
13,000 |
36,000 |
| CLBs |
784 |
784 |
432 |
1,024 |
| Package |
HQ240 |
HQ240 |
HQ240 |
HQ240 |
| Speed Grade |
–9 |
–9 |
–9 |
–9 |
| Temp. Range |
0°C to +85°C |
–40°C to +100°C |
0°C to +85°C |
0°C to +85°C |
| Voltage |
3.3V |
3.3V |
3.3V |
3.3V |
Key Difference: The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is rated for commercial temperature (0°C to +85°C), while the XC4028XLA-09HQ240I covers the extended industrial range (–40°C to +100°C). For benign environments such as offices, labs, and consumer products, the commercial-grade part is typically sufficient and more cost-effective.
Typical Applications
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is widely used across multiple industries and application domains:
Industrial & Automation
- Motor control and servo drive logic
- Industrial communication protocol bridges (RS-232, RS-485, CAN)
- PLC (programmable logic controller) coprocessors
- Machine vision preprocessing
Communications & Networking
- Packet framing and protocol processing
- Line card interface logic
- SONET/SDH framers (glue logic)
- Crossbar switch control
Embedded Systems & Computing
- Custom co-processors for microcontrollers
- Memory controllers and bus bridges
- Video signal processing
- High-speed DSP filtering (FIR/IIR)
Test & Measurement
- Waveform generation and capture logic
- Pattern generators and analyzers
- BERT (Bit Error Rate Tester) implementations
- Instrument front-panel control
Design Tools and Software Support
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is supported by Xilinx ISE Design Suite (the appropriate toolchain for XC4000-series FPGAs):
| Tool |
Version / Notes |
| Xilinx ISE |
ISE 14.7 (last supported version) — free WebPACK |
| HDL Languages |
VHDL, Verilog |
| Schematic Entry |
Supported via ISE Schematic Editor |
| Simulation |
ISim (bundled with ISE) or ModelSim |
| Timing Analysis |
ISE Timing Analyzer / TRCE |
| JTAG Programming |
Xilinx iMPACT |
Note: The XC4000XLA family is not supported in Vivado. Designers must use Xilinx ISE 14.7, which remains available for download from AMD’s website as a legacy tool.
PCB Design Guidelines for XC4028XLA-09HQ240C
Power Supply Decoupling
Proper decoupling is critical for stable FPGA operation:
- Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors (X5R or X7R, 0402 or 0603) at every VCC/GND pair
- Add at least one 10 µF bulk capacitor per power rail near the FPGA
- Use a 4-layer PCB stack-up with dedicated power and ground planes
Signal Integrity
- Keep high-speed I/O traces as short as possible
- Match trace lengths for differential or time-critical signals
- Add series termination resistors (22–33 Ω) on outputs driving long traces or heavy loads
- Avoid routing signals beneath the HQFP heat slug unless on inner layers
Configuration Circuit
- Use a Xilinx XCFxxS or XCFxxP Platform Flash PROM for reliable serial configuration
- Decouple VCCINT and VCCO separately even if both are at 3.3V
- The DONE pin should include a 4.7 kΩ pull-up resistor
Ordering Information
| Part Number |
Package |
Speed Grade |
Temperature |
Lead Finish |
| XC4028XLA-09HQ240C |
240 HQFP |
–9 |
Commercial (0°C to +85°C) |
Standard (SnPb) |
| XC4028XLA-09HQ240I |
240 HQFP |
–9 |
Industrial (–40°C to +100°C) |
Standard (SnPb) |
| XC4028XLA-08HQ240C |
240 HQFP |
–8 (faster) |
Commercial |
Standard (SnPb) |
Why Choose the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C?
- Proven Architecture: The XC4000XLA family has decades of field-proven reliability across thousands of designs worldwide.
- Low Voltage Operation: 3.3V core reduces power consumption vs. 5V predecessors, lowering thermal management requirements.
- Reprogrammable: Infinite reconfiguration cycles allow rapid design iteration, field updates, and multi-function applications.
- Large I/O Count: 192 user I/O pins in the 240-pin package support complex interface designs without external I/O expanders.
- Cost Effective: Mature technology and wide availability make this device a cost-competitive choice for legacy-compatible designs.
- JTAG Support: IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan enables in-circuit testing and programming without custom programming fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between XC4028XLA-09HQ240C and XC4028XLA-09HQ240I?
A: The only difference is the temperature range. The “C” suffix denotes commercial grade (0°C to +85°C) and the “I” suffix denotes industrial grade (–40°C to +100°C). All other electrical characteristics, package, and speed grade are identical.
Q: Can I program the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C with Vivado?
A: No. Vivado does not support XC4000-series devices. You must use Xilinx ISE 14.7, which supports the full XC4000XLA family.
Q: Is the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C RoHS compliant?
A: Standard parts use SnPb (tin-lead) solder finish. Contact your distributor for lead-free (RoHS-compliant) versions, which may carry a different suffix.
Q: What configuration device should I use with this FPGA?
A: Xilinx XCFxxS (serial) or XCFxxP (parallel/SelectMAP) Platform Flash PROMs are recommended. The XCF02S or XCF04S is appropriate for storing the XC4028XLA bitstream.
Q: How many logic gates does the XC4028XLA-09HQ240C contain?
A: The device is rated at 28,000 equivalent gates, implemented in 784 CLBs (Configurable Logic Blocks), each containing two 4-input LUTs and two flip-flops.
Conclusion
The XC4028XLA-09HQ240C is a versatile, reliable, and cost-effective FPGA solution for commercial-temperature applications requiring up to 28,000 gates of programmable logic. Its mature XC4000XLA architecture, comprehensive I/O capabilities, and broad tool support make it a strong candidate for industrial controls, communications, embedded systems, and test equipment designs. Whether you are maintaining an existing design or evaluating the platform for new development, this Xilinx FPGA delivers the performance and flexibility engineers demand.
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