Actel

ESC Edition

innovative programmable logic solutions

Leading Nonvolatile FPGAs

Actel is the #1 Nonvolatile FPGA Supplier

Actel Solutions

Actel's ProASIC3, Fusion, and IGLOO devices are all based on Actel's third generation flash architecture. So what do they have in common?

They all share certain characteristics inherent to a true flash-based FPGA that you won't find on SRAM or Nonvolatile SRAM FPGAs.

Actel devices are truly single-chip, no boot prom, no two silicon, single package combos; one chip is all you need with a true flash architecture.

Since the devices remain programmed when you power down, they are completely live at power up, with no internal configuration required while the rest of the system waits. Flash technology is also inherently lower power than other FPGA technologies. 5 µW is simply the best out there.

Actel also offers the highest security of any FPGA with 128-bit AES decryption on-chip and no configuration data stream to hack. And if you are familiar with Firm Errors, Actel devices are immune to those as well.

Actel has been supplying nonvolatile FPGAs since 1988 and flash FPGAs since 1999. Other FPGA vendors are now attempting to imitate the benefits of our truly nonvolatile flash-based FPGAs. This serves only to validate what Actel has been producing for years... single-chip flash-based FPGAs.

Which Device for Cortex-M1?

So now that you've decided you like the Cortex processor you have to choose which Actel device to use it with.

ProASIC3

ProASIC3 is the Leading Nonvolatile Flash-Based FPGA

It is a single-chip flash FPGA array with flash memory. It has low power consumption, is live at power-up, and can run from a single voltage source, with no auxiliary or programming voltages required. It is reprogrammable and extremely secure with 128-bit AES decryption, and has the lowest total system cost of any FPGA, with no external PROM, or external clock management.

  • Cortex-M1 on ProASIC3 million gate device < 20% of FPGA logic
  • 7 devices under 1 M system gates
  • Memory - 1 k of user flash memory, 144 kbits SRAM
  • On-chip PLL and extensive global clocking resources
  • Up to 300 digital I/O
ProASIC3

Fusion is the System-on-Chip option with FPGA, memory, analog, and clocking all built in.

It can even power itself down and back up, so is great as a system manager. Fusion is the industry's first FPGA with analog front-end. You can execute in place with Cortex-M1, since flash is fast enough for data and instruction access. Fusion has built in technology for voltage, current, and even temperature monitoring with up to 32 channels feeding the 12-bit SAR ADC.

  • Cortex-M1 on Fusion 600 k gate device < 30% of FPGA logic
  • Up to 8 Mbits of user flash memory, with 10 ns access time
  • Integrated Analog to Digital Converter with up to 600 ksps
  • Analog I/O (30 IP/10 OP channels) upto 252 Digital I/O
  • Clocking 2 PLL, 100 MHz RC Osc, Xtal Osc, Real-Time Counter