Altera Extends Low-Cost MAX 3000A CPLD Family With a High-Density Device
Lowest Cost per Macrocell for High-Volume Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR - News) today announced the immediate availability
of the low-cost, high-density EPM3512A device-the newest member of the 3.3-V
MAX® 3000A family. The aggressively priced device extends the density
offering of the MAX 3000A family to include 512 macrocells. Customers
developing CPLD applications such as decoder logic, I/O interfaces, and
control path interfaces now benefit from an extended density offering in the
lowest cost MAX device family.
"Altera's new 512 macrocell CPLD offers significantly more logic density
than previous low-cost products," said Keith Bayern, principal engineer at
Honeywell. "With the introduction of the EPM3512A device, we can get larger
logic capacity at a lower price, making it a great fit for our designs."
The EPM3512A device is ideal for customers developing wide data bus
applications. For example, interfacing between microprocessors, peripherals,
and memory frequently requires address decoding and sophisticated multiplexing
designs. Using the EPM3512A device, these complex designs can now be
integrated onto one device, reducing costs in development and manufacturing.
With the EPM3512A device, the number of available product terms in a
single device is doubled, increasing the space available for new logic.
Additionally, the EPM3512A device expands the available I/O interfaces by
32 percent over the existing MAX 3000A devices, and features a new Fineline
BGA® package. Fabricated on a 0.3-um, four-layer metal process, the EPM3512A
device provides 7.5-nanosecond pin-to-pin performance and frequency counter
speeds of up to 115.0 MHz. All MAX 3000A devices include an enhanced
in-system programmability (ISP) feature set and support both Jam(TM) STAPL and
MultiVolt(TM) I/O (2.5V, 3.3V and 5.0V) operation.
"The MAX 3000A family has shown exceptional growth for high-volume
applications," said Luanne M. Schirrmeister, director of marketing, MAX
products, at Altera. "The addition of the 512 macrocell device to this family
reinforces Altera's leading position in the non-volatile PLD market."
Software Support
The EPM3512A device is supported by Altera's Quartus® II version 2.1 and
MAX+PLUS® II version 10.2 design software. Software support for the new
device is available today. Altera's Quartus II software and MAX+PLUS II
software provide seamless integration with tools from Mentor Graphics,
Synopsys, Synplicity, and other leading EDA vendors.
Availability, Packaging and Pricing
The EPM3512A device is available today and is offered in the -7 and -10
commercial speed grades. Packaging options include the plastic quad flat
package (PQFP) and FineLine BGA packages. High-volume pricing at the end of
2003 for the EPM3512A device will be as low as $15.
About MAX Devices
Altera's MAX brand of complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) are
non-volatile, general-purpose programmable logic devices (PLDs) that address a
broad range of applications, including consumer, communications, industrial,
and computing markets. Built using CMOS floating-gate process technology, MAX
devices are based on the advanced Multiple Array Matrix (MAX) architecture and
offer densities from 600 to 12,000 usable gates.
About Altera
Altera Corporation is the world's pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip
(SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools,
intellectual property and technical services, Altera provides high-value
programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More
information is available at http://www.altera.com .
NOTE: Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera
logo, specific device designations and all other words that are identified as
trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks
and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All
other product or service names are the property of their respective holder.