Actel RTAX FPGAs Keep Getting Better

Actel Enhances Performance and Reduces Power Constraints in Industry-Leading RTAX Space-Flight FPGAs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 17, 2009 — Actel Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTL) today announced continued improvements in performance and usability of its industry-leading radiation-tolerant RTAX-S and RTAX-SL space-flight FPGAs, offering designers of space applications even greater advantages. Unburdened by the cost and schedule risks associated with radiation-hardened ASICs, the RTAX-S/SL family is the FPGA of choice for use in space-flight applications requiring built-in protection from radiation-induced single-event upset (SEU) events.

The enhancements to the RTAX-S/SL family of FPGAs include:

• Reduced static power consumption for RTAX-SL FPGAs of up to 80% compared to RTAX-S FPGAs. This saving in static power is particularly important for systems that go into stand-by mode and need to retain register and memory states while the spacecraft is running in battery mode (for example, while passing through the earth's shadow),
  
• A faster speed grade for the 4-million gate RTAX4000S FPGA, bringing 10% higher performance to the largest SEU-protected radiation-tolerant FPGA,
  
• A new, low-power RTAX4000SL FPGA, available in CQFP352 and CGA/LGA 1272 packages, reducing static power consumption by 50% compared to the RTAX4000S FPGA,
  
• New 624-pin CCGA and LGA packages for the RTAX250S/SL FPGA, giving designers a 17% increase in available I/Os and more than 50% savings in footprint. Devices are available today that are screened to MI- STD-883 Class B, Actel Extended flow, and Actel EV flow (which has processing steps identical to QML Class V) specifications,
  
• Increased absolute maximum junction temperature for the RTAX-S/SL FPGA to 135°C, giving designers an additional 10°C buffer to run the devices faster or at higher case temperatures.

About RTAX FPGAs

High performance and low power consumption, true single-chip form factor, and live-at-power-up operation all combine to make RTAX-S/SL the defacto FPGA platform for space designers. These devices offer high-performance at densities of up to 4 million equivalent system gates and 840 user I/Os. The RTAX-S/SL family features SEU-hardened flip-flops implemented without any user intervention, offering the radiation protection benefits of user-implemented triple module redundancy (TMR) without the associated overhead. RTAX-S/SL FPGAs offer much faster design cycle times than ASICs and eliminate the large up-front tooling charges and long fabrication cycle times associated with ASICs. Consequently, for typical low-volume space applications, RTAX FPGAs have lower cost of ownership and schedule risk than radiation-hardened ASICs.

For more information on RTAX-S/SL FPGAs: http://www.actel.com/products/milaero/rtaxs/default.aspx

About Actel
Actel is the leader in low-power FPGAs and mixed-signal FPGAs, offering the most comprehensive portfolio of system and power management solutions. Power Matters. Learn more at www.actel.com.

The Actel name and logo are registered trademarks of Actel Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: Gwen Carlson, Microsemi Corporation, 949.221.7173