Actel Design Environment Enables Fast, Easy Implementation of World's First Mixed-Signal FPGA
Libero IDE and Starter Kit Empower System Designers to Fully Exploit
the Actel Fusion Programmable System Chip
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., December 12, 2005 —
Unveiling
a crucial element in a new era of system development, Actel Corporation
(NASDAQ: ACTL) today announced a comprehensive design environment that
fully supports implementation of the company's new Fusion
Programmable System Chip (PSC). The combination of the Actel Fusion™ PSC
and the Actel Libero® Integrated Design
Environment (IDE) 7.0 enables an unprecedented convergence of digital
logic, analog functionality, embedded flash memory and field-programmable
gate array (FPGA) fabric on a single chip. Actel's extensive mix of tools
provide designers with the environments, methodologies and links they
need to easily generate, configure and verify operation of this groundbreaking
mixed-signal FPGA technology. Upgrades to Actel's popular Libero IDE
allow full PSC generation in an easy-to-use, "pick-and-click" user
interface, while a low-cost Actel Fusion Starter Kit ensures that the
design is taken from concept to completion quickly and efficiently.
"The Actel Fusion PSC satisfies a strong demand from system architects
for a device that simplifies design and unleashes their creativity," said
Dennis Kish, vice president of marketing at Actel. "However, because
the right blend of tools is an essential part of this solution, Actel
has put together a package that empowers designers to fully exploit the
unprecedented level of integration and flexibility provided by this revolutionary
family of devices."
Libero IDE 7.0 Brings "Pick-and-Click" Implementation to
the Actel Fusion PSC
Specifically developed with the Actel Fusion PSC in mind, Actel's Libero
IDE 7.0 brings together innovative new tools to generate, configure,
interconnect and map intellectual property (IP) to the Fusion fabric.
Highly flexible and easy-to-use, Libero's graphical environment enables
designers to "pick-and-click" specific options to generate
and configure complex mixed-signal peripherals. Recognizing the potential
of combining Actel Fusion analog/digital functions with embedded processing,
Actel is also providing comprehensive hardware/software co-development
tools to simplify the development of embedded soft processor solutions
directly on the Actel Fusion PSC fabric.
Building on its strategy to provide best-in-class EDA tools as part
of its Libero IDE, Actel has worked with industry-leading, third-party
tool vendors to provide support for Actel Fusion PSCs. Magma Design Automation
provides physical synthesis support with its PALACE tool, Mentor Graphics
provides simulation support in ModelSim and Synplicity provides
FPGA logic synthesis support with its Synplify AE and Synplify Pro tools.
Starter Kit Demonstrates Innovative Features of Actel Fusion PSC
The feature-rich Actel Fusion Starter Kit has built-in capabilities
for a host of designs utilizing the salient features of the Actel Fusion
PSC, including internal and external temperature management, analog signal
conversion and level detection, power monitoring, and current sensing
and control applications, to name a few. Featuring a 600K-gate Actel
Fusion PSC in an FG256 package, the Actel Fusion Starter Kit delivers
higher gate and I/O count than prior kits, enabling users to create and
test more complex designs.
The Actel Fusion Starter Kit also includes a set of MOSFETs for driving
and controlling external voltages and a high-brightness, multi-color
LED for demonstrating pulse-width modulation (PWM) effects. For example,
users can use this LED to monitor temperature-sensing applications without
need for costly external monitoring equipment, such as an oscilloscope
or fan. Further, the Actel Fusion Starter Kit supports many use models,
including sleep and standby modes, external wake-up and event-initiated
state saving based on current-, temperature-, time- or voltage-sensing
events.
Additional contents of the Actel Fusion Starter Kit include an evaluation
board, Actel's Libero IDE 7.0, Actel's Flash Pro3 programmer and tutorial
documentation.
Pricing and Availability
The Actel Libero IDE 7.0 is available now in a Platinum edition for
Windows and Unix platforms, which sell for $2495 and $4995, respectively.
A free Gold edition is also available for Windows. All Libero editions
are one-year renewable licenses. The Actel Fusion Starter Kit is available
now. Pricing for the Starter Kit begins at $350. For further information
about pricing and availability, please contact Actel.
About Actel
Actel Corporation is the leader in single-chip FPGA
solutions. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under
the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain
View, Calif., 94043-4655. For more information about Actel, visit http://www.actel.com.
Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835).
Contact: Stephanie Mrus, Actel Corporation, 650.318.4614
