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 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090617/AQ34003)

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 degrees C, giving designers an additional 10 degrees 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.

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Web site: http://www.actel.com/