E Ink Selects Actel's Flash-Based FPGAs for Use in Next-Generation Electronic Paper Display Controller
Flash-based ProASIC3 Devices Meet E Ink's Price,
Power and Footprint Needs
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 08, 2006 —
Actel Corporation
(Nasdaq: ACTL) today announced that its flash-based ProASIC3 field-programmable
gate arrays (FPGAs) have been selected by E Ink Corporation for use within
its next-generation electronic paper display controllers. Providing the
flexibility of re-programmability in a low-cost, low-power, small-footprint
device, Actel's single-chip ProASIC3 FPGA will transfer image information
from the host processor to active matrix electronic paper displays. E
Ink's technology will benefit multiple portable end applications, including
consumer handhelds, PDAs, E-books and mobile handsets.
E Ink's electronic paper display technology possesses a paper-like high
contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption and a thin, light form.
It provides the viewer the experience of reading from paper, while having
the power of updateable information and memory retention even when the
display's power is turned off. Key to the design of E Ink's electronic
paper display is low power consumption, as battery-operated mobile devices
make greatest use of the technology.
"Actel's ProASIC3 FPGA provided E Ink with the flexibility of re-programmability
in a small-footprint, single chip device," said Holly Gates, lead
engineer at E Ink. "Further, the live
at power-up nature of the device allowed us to meet product specifications
and maximize battery life as compared to other FPGA alternatives considered
for our electronic paper display technology."
"E Ink's deployment of Actel's single-chip, low-cost ProASIC3
devices in its cutting-edge electronic paper display technology underscores
the advantages that nonvolatile FPGAs provide for today's portable applications," said
Martin Mason, director of silicon product marketing at Actel. "Providing
low power, small footprint and reduced cost on a single chip, Actel's
FPGAs uniquely possess a mix of ASIC-like attributes in a reprogrammable
FPGA – features highly sought after by the ever-growing community
of portable electronics designers."
About ProASIC3
The industry's lowest cost FPGA solution Actel's live at power-up, low-power,
highly secure ProASIC3/E devices deliver PCI performance and are the
industry's first FPGAs with on-chip user flash memory. The ten devices
in the ProASIC3/E families, ranging in density from 30,000 to 3-million
system gates, deliver technology-leading integrated secure in-system
programmability (ISP). Building on the success of Actel's flash-based
ProASIC Plus family, the fine-grained, single-chip architecture and nonvolatile
flash configuration memory make Actel's ProASIC3/E offering a strong
ASIC alternative. The ProASIC3/E design methodology supports popular
FPGA and ASIC tool flows, reducing time to market and permitting designers
to migrate easily between FPGA and ASIC solutions for applications in
the consumer, networking and communications, in-cab automotive, computing
and avionics markets.
About E Ink Corporation
E Ink Corporation is the world's leading supplier of electronic paper
display (EPD) technologies. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer
and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, watches, clocks,
and public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private
corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners
TOPPAN Printing Company, Royal Philips Electronics, The Hearst Corporation,
Intel Capital, CNI Ventures, a division of Gannett Co., Inc, Air Products
and Chemicals, Inc., Vossloh Information Technologies, and Motorola,
Inc. E Ink news can be found at www.eink.com.
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: Ferda Mehmet, A&R Edelman, 415.308.7877
