
Spark-100 SoM with Altera Cyclone SoC
Production-quality module SE/SX FPGA and dual ARM Cortex-A9 
The Spark-100 is a ready to use industrial embedded System-On-Module (SoM) based on Altera Cyclone V SoC, which combines two ARM Cortex-A9 cores running at 925MHz with up to 110K FPGA logic elements.
Using the FPGA’s configurable logic, the Spark enables unlimited possibilities to add customized accelerators and virtually any peripheral set, giving the developer the power and flexibility to design the optimal solution for any application.
Spark-100 also provides 1GB of 32-bit DDR3, and 4GB eMMC storage. Connectivity includes Gigabit Ethernet, USB, UARTs, I2C, SPI, SD Card, CAN and ample GPIO. The module operates from a single 5v supply, measures 82mm x 50mm, and is mounted via a 314-pin edge-connector following the SMARC pinout.
Different versions of the module correspond to particular members of the Altera Cyclone V SoC family, offering from 25k to 110k logic elements, and up to 6x 3.125Gbps high-speed transceivers.
A fully-featured development carrier board is available in the form of the CB-50. This provides an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, 3 USB connectors, and a range of additional capabilities including JTAG interface, I2C power meter, RTC device, and audio interface and HSMC connector.
As well as a Ubuntu Linux distribution, a small-footprint Linux suitable for boot from QSPI NOR Flash is available.
Resource | Shiratech Spark-102 | Detail |
---|---|---|
Device | Altera Cyclone V SoC | |
FPGA | SE or SX | 25/40/85/110K logic elements |
CPU | Dual ARM Cortex-A9 | |
Processor Clock Max (MHz) | 925 | |
RAM (MB) | 1024 | DDR3 32-bit |
NAND Flash (MB) | 4GB eMMC | |
Floating Point | y | Dual ARM Cortex Neon VFP/SIMD |
UART | 2 | |
Ethernet | 1 | Gigabit Ethernet PHY on module |
I2C Interface | 4 | |
LCD Controller | via FPGA | 24 bpp, VGA on carrier |
Audio | via FPGA | DAC on carrier |
SD card/SDIO | 1 | microSD on CB-50 |
USB | 2 | 2 x Host or 1x OTG |
SPI | 2 | |
JTAG | 1 | |
CAN | 2 | |
Temp. sensor | 1 | via I2C |
Transceivers | up to 6 | 3.125Gbps transceivers* |
Temperature Range | 0-50C / -40 to +85C | |
Dimensions | 82 x 50mm | option |
Input Voltage (V) | 5 | |
Connectors | SMARC 314 | |
Linux | y | Debian |

HPS interfaces
- 10/100/1000 Ethernet port
- UART interface for debug
- 2 USB host interfaces
- 1 USB OTG
- Other peripherals
- 50 Header including I2C, SPI, CAN and GPIOs
- JTAG interface
- Power meter – I2C device
- RTC device
FPGA Interfaces
- VGA interface (build in RGB to VGA)
- Audio interface – Line in, Line out and MiC
- 2 GE interfaces – based on Transceivers(optional)
- HSMC connector – for Altera expansion modules
- 2 LEDs and push buttons for debug