# Altera Cyclone V

> FPGA chip

**Wikidata**: [Q81401867](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81401867)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/altera-cyclone-v

## Summary
The Altera Cyclone V is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip manufactured by Altera. It is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or designer after manufacturing, utilizing a 28 nm lithography process. As part of the broader Cyclone series, it serves as a programmable logic device that allows for flexible hardware customization.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and integrated circuit.
- **Manufacturer:** Altera.
- **Fabrication Technology:** Manufactured using a 28 nm lithography process.
- **Functionality:** Designed to be configured by a customer or designer after manufacturing.
- **Series Affiliation:** Part of the Altera Cyclone series, which includes models II, III, IV, and V.
- **Industry Context:** FPGAs were originally invented in 1985 by Ross Freeman and Bernard Vonderschmitt.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Altera Cyclone V?
A: The Altera Cyclone V is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip produced by Altera. It is classified as an integrated circuit that users can configure to perform specific logic functions after it has been manufactured.

### Q: What manufacturing process is used for the Altera Cyclone V?
A: The chip is fabricated using a 28 nm lithography process. This process technology defines the scale of the transistors and logic gates within the integrated circuit.

### Q: How does the Cyclone V fit into the history of FPGAs?
A: The Cyclone V is a modern iteration of FPGA technology, a field that was established in 1985 with the invention of the first commercially viable FPGA by Xilinx co-founders Ross Freeman and Bernard Vonderschmitt.

## Why It Matters
The Altera Cyclone V represents a specific advancement in the lineage of programmable logic devices, offering a balance of performance and manufacturing efficiency through its 28 nm architecture. As an FPGA, it solves the critical engineering problem of hardware rigidity; unlike fixed-function chips, the Cyclone V allows designers to customize hardware functionality for specific tasks without the high cost and time required to design a new application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). This capability enables rapid prototyping and allows for updates in the field to correct bugs or add features, making it a versatile component in modern electronics and embedded systems.

## Notable For
- **Post-Manufacturing Configurability:** Distinguished by the ability to be configured by a customer or designer after the manufacturing process is complete.
- **28nm Lithography:** Utilizes a specific 28 nm lithography fabrication method, marking its technological generation.
- **Altera Heritage:** Is a distinct product of Altera, a major entity in the semiconductor industry responsible for the wider Cyclone series.
- **Logic Gate Utility:** Functions through the use of logic gates to execute operations, a defining trait of the FPGA class.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
The Altera Cyclone V is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a type of integrated circuit. It falls under the classification of programmable logic devices and is considered a processor type. Unlike standard fixed-function chips, the Cyclone V is designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturing. This architecture allows the same piece of hardware to be reprogrammed for different tasks using logic gates.

### Technical Specifications
The device is defined by its physical construction and manufacturing origin.
*   **Fabrication:** The Cyclone V is manufactured using a 28 nm lithography process.
*   **Manufacturer:** The entity responsible for its production is Altera.
*   **Visual Identification:** The device is cataloged visually under the commons category "Altera Cyclone V."

### Historical and Industry Context
While the Altera Cyclone V is a specific modern chip, it exists within the broader history of semiconductor development. The underlying technology, the field-programmable gate array, was invented in 1985. The invention is credited to Xilinx co-founders Ross Freeman and Bernard Vonderschmitt, who developed the first commercially viable FPGA, the XC2064. The Cyclone V is part of the Altera Cyclone series, a line of FPGAs that includes predecessors such as the Cyclone II, III, and IV. The broader FPGA ecosystem also includes products from other major firms like AMD (Versal, Zynq UltraScale+) and Intel (Cyclone 10).

### Identifiers and Resources
The Altera Cyclone V is recognized in various databases and libraries. It has a sitelink count of 1 and is described in Wikidata as an "FPGA chip." The technology of FPGAs, which includes the Cyclone V, is a globally standardized concept cataloged by authority IDs such as the Library of Congress Authority ID (sh93009062) and the GND ID (4347749-5).

## References

1. [Source](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/fpga/cyclone.html)