For Release: April 26, 1999
Altera Announces Two Enhanced, High-Density MAX 7000A Devices
- Devices Available in Two Industry-Standard Densities
- Enhancements Enable Fast In-System Programming
- Hot-Socketing Feature Allows Installation in Powered Systems
San Jose, Calif., April 26, 1999 -- Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR) today announced the availability of two new members of the MAX® 7000A family of programmable logic devices (PLDs), offering enhanced in-system programming (ISP) features in 128- or 256-macrocell densities. Designs that are frequently implemented in Altera's popular MAX 7000A family include complex control circuits and state machines for use in applications such as CMOS image array frame grabbers and xDSL modem transmission equipment. The EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices provide 5 nanosecond pin-to-pin performance, as well as circuit enhancements that improve ISP programming time by up to two times. Additionally, the devices allow hot-socketing for easy installation into powered-up systems, a frequent requirement in communications line cards.
"With the release of the EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE, Altera strengthens its commitment to supplying high-performance product-term-based programmable logic at all density levels," said Craig Leclair, Altera director of components marketing. "Utilizing these two devices, designers can develop in-system programmable circuits for a broad range of applications."
Available in Altera's two best-selling product-term-device densities, the EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices offer up to 2,500 and 5,000 usable gates, respectively. They are fabricated on a 0.35-micron (drawn) four-layer-metal process and support very fast combinatorial functions, as evidenced by frequency counter speeds of up to 178.6 MHz.
ISP Enhancements
Improving on the already highly efficient MAX 7000A family ISP capabilities, the enhancements to the EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices allow programming to be completed up to twice as fast as comparable ISP devices. Due to Altera's simplified programming algorithm, these devices need significantly fewer instructions and utilize a more efficient addressing scheme. In addition, an Auto Increment Counter replaces the external source for row address information. Together, the enhanced algorithm and Auto Increment Counter reduce the number of verification vectors by five to seven times. These devices also include a Programming Done Bit to protect external devices during programming, new pull-up resistors on I/O pins that provide a bus-friendly interface during programming, and a hot-socketing feature that allows users to implement the devices on boards to be inserted in actively powered systems.
MultiVolt Support
To support mixed-voltage board designs, the EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices use Altera's patented MultiVolt™ I/O feature to seamlessly interface 2.5-, 3.3-, and 5.0-V voltage levels.
MAX+PLUS® II Design Software
As with all Altera product-term devices, the EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices are supported by Altera's MAX+PLUS® II programmable logic design software. Designers have a choice of electronic design automation (EDA) tools with the MAX+PLUS II design environment. The platform-independent MAX+PLUS II software offers users a seamless design flow with tools from Cadence, Exemplar Logic, Mentor Graphics, Model Technology, Synopsys, Synplicity, and other leading EDA vendors.
Jam Language Support
The EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices support ISP via the IEEE standard Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) 1149.1 interface. Using the vendor- and platform-independent Jam™ programming and test language, the devices can be programmed on various platforms using a single file. Once created, a Jam file contains all the device and programming data and algorithms necessary to program a specific design into a targeted device.
Availability, Packaging, & Pricing
The EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices are available in 100-pin TQFP, 100-pin FineLine BGA™, 144-pin TQFP, and 256-pin FineLine BGA packaging. The EPM7256AE device is also available in a 208-pin PQFP package. Pricing for these devices starts at $5.75 per device in 100,000-unit quantities for the EPM7128AE device.
Safe Harbor Notice
This press release contains "forward looking statements" which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are generally preceded by words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "projects," or "intends." Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation the risks that the Company's products will not satisfy customer demands, that other companies will develop products with higher densities than those offered by the Company, and that yields will not be sufficient to support projected pricing. Please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available from the Company without charge, for further information.
About Altera
Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company™, was founded in 1983 and is a worldwide leader in high-performance, high-density programmable logic devices and associated computer aided engineering (CAE) logic development tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that offer on-site programmability to customers. The chips are programmed using tools that run on personal computers or engineering work stations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. The company offers the broadest line of CMOS programmable logic devices that address high-speed, high-density, and low-power applications. Altera products serve a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, data communications, computer peripherals, and industrial applications. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR.
