Actel

Last updated
Actel Corporation
Industry Integrated Circuits
Founded1985
Successor Microsemi
Headquarters
San Jose, California
,
United States
Products FPGAs, Embedded Processors
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$191 Million (FY 2009) [1]
Decrease2.svg US$-21.3 Million (FY 2009) [1]
Decrease2.svg US$-46.2 Million (FY 2009) [1]
Total assets Decrease2.svg US$307 Million (FY 2009) [2]
Total equity Decrease2.svg US$233 Million (FY 2009) [2]
Number of employees
500+ [3]
Website www.actel.com www.microsemi.com

Actel Corporation (formerly NASDAQ:ACTL) was an American manufacturer of nonvolatile, low-power field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), [4] mixed-signal FPGAs, [5] and programmable logic solutions. [6] [7] [8] It had its headquarters in Mountain View, California, with offices worldwide. In November 2010, Microsemi acquired Actel for $430 million. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Contents

History and competition

Actel was founded in 1985 and became known for its high-reliability and anti-fuse-based FPGAs, used in the military and aerospace markets. [13]

Actel acquired GateField in 2000, which expanded Actel's anti-fuse FPGA offering to include flash-based FPGAs. Actel announced in 2004 that it had shipped the one-millionth unit of its flash-based ProASICPLUS FPGA. [14]

In 2005, Actel introduced a new technology known as Fusion to bring FPGA programmability to mixed-signal solutions. Fusion was the first technology to integrate mixed-signal analogue capabilities with flash memory and FPGA fabric in a monolithic device. [15]

In 2006, to address the tight power budgets of the portable market, Actel introduced the IGLOO FPGA. The IGLOO family of FPGAs was based on Actel's nonvolatile flash technology and the ProASIC 3 FPGA architecture. [16] Two new IGLOO derivatives were added in 2008: IGLOO PLUS FPGAs with enhanced I/O capabilities, and IGLOO nano FPGAs, a low power solution at 2 μW. A nano version of ProASIC3 also became available in 2008.

In 2010, Actel introduced the SmartFusion line of FPGAs. SmartFusion includes both analogue components and a programmable flash-based logic fabric within the same chip. SmartFusion was the first FPGA product to additionally include a hard ARM processor core. [17]

Altera and Xilinx are the other key players in the market, however, their main focus is on SRAM FPGAs. Lattice Semiconductor is another competitor. [18] [19]

Technologies

Actel's portfolio of FPGAs is based on two types of technologies: anti-fuse-based FPGAs (Axcelerator, SX-A, eX, and MX families) and flash-based FPGAs (Fusion, PolarFire, IGLOO, and ProASIC3 families).

Actel's anti-fuse FPGAs have been known for their nonvolatility, live-at power-up operation, [20] single-chip form factor[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ], and security[ citation needed ]. Actel's flash-based FPGA families include these same characteristics[ citation needed ] and are also reprogrammable and low power.[ citation needed ]

Actel also develops system-critical FPGAs (RTAX and ProASIC3 families), including extended temperature automotive, military, and aerospace FPGAs, plus a wide variety of space-class radiation-tolerant devices. These flash and anti-fuse FPGAs have high levels of reliability[ citation needed ] and firm-error immunity.[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]

Controversy

In March 2012, researchers from the University of Cambridge discovered a backdoor in the JTAG interface of the ProASIC3 family of low-powered FPGAs. [21] They defended their theory at a cryptography workshop held in Belgium in September 2012. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Field-programmable gate array</span> Array of logic gates that are reprogrammable

A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a type of configurable integrated circuit that can be repeatedly programmed post manufacturing. FPGAs are a subset of logic devices referred to as programmable logic devices ("PLDs"). They consist of an array of programmable logic blocks with a connecting grid, that can be configured "in the field" to interconnect with other logic blocks to perform various digital functions. FPGAs are often used in limited (low) quantity production of custom made Products, and of course in Research and Development. Other Applications for FPGAs are where their flexibility, high signal processing speed, and the need for lots of parallel processing is there, such as in telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Programmable logic device</span> Reconfigurable digital circuit element

A programmable logic device (PLD) is an electronic component used to build reconfigurable digital circuits. Unlike digital logic constructed using discrete logic gates with fixed functions, the function of a PLD is undefined at the time of manufacture. Before the PLD can be used in a circuit it must be programmed to implement the desired function. Compared to fixed logic devices, programmable logic devices simplify the design of complex logic and may offer superior performance. Unlike for microprocessors, programming a PLD changes the connections made between the gates in the device.

Atmel Corporation was a creator and manufacturer of semiconductors before being subsumed by Microchip Technology in 2016. Atmel was founded in 1984. The company focused on embedded systems built around microcontrollers. Its products included microcontrollers radio-frequency (RF) devices including Wi-Fi, EEPROM, and flash memory devices, symmetric and asymmetric security chips, touch sensors and controllers, and application-specific products. Atmel supplies its devices as standard products, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or application-specific standard product (ASSPs) depending on the requirements of its customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altera</span> U.S. semiconductor company that produces Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)

Altera Corporation is a manufacturer of programmable logic devices (PLDs) headquartered in San Jose, California. It was founded in 1983 and acquired by Intel in 2015 before becoming independent once again in 2024 as a company focused on development of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology and system on a chip FPGAs.

JTAG is an industry standard for verifying designs of and testing printed circuit boards after manufacture.

Non-volatile memory (NVM) or non-volatile storage is a type of computer memory that can retain stored information even after power is removed. In contrast, volatile memory needs constant power in order to retain data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PMC-Sierra</span> Former semiconductor company

PMC-Sierra was a global fabless semiconductor company with offices worldwide that developed and sold semiconductor devices into the storage, communications, optical networking, printing, and embedded computing marketplaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xilinx</span> American technology company

Xilinx, Inc. was an American technology and semiconductor company that primarily supplied programmable logic devices. The company is known for inventing the first commercially viable field-programmable gate array (FPGA). It also created the first fabless manufacturing model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Programmer (hardware)</span> Device that installs firmware on a device

In the context of installing firmware onto a device, a programmer, device programmer, chip programmer, device burner, or PROM writer is a device that writes, a.k.a. burns, firmware to a target device's non-volatile memory.

The transistor count is the number of transistors in an electronic device. It is the most common measure of integrated circuit complexity. The rate at which MOS transistor counts have increased generally follows Moore's law, which observes that transistor count doubles approximately every two years. However, being directly proportional to the area of a chip, transistor count does not represent how advanced the corresponding manufacturing technology is: a better indication of this is transistor density.

Microchip Technology Incorporated is a publicly listed American corporation that manufactures microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog, and Flash-IP integrated circuits. Its products include microcontrollers, Serial EEPROM devices, Serial SRAM devices, embedded security devices, radio frequency (RF) devices, thermal, power, and battery management analog devices, as well as linear, interface and wireless products.

Aldec, Inc. is a privately owned electronic design automation company based in Henderson, Nevada that provides software and hardware used in creation and verification of digital designs targeting FPGA and ASIC technologies.

Microsemi Corporation was an Aliso Viejo, California-based provider of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace & defense, communications, data center and industrial markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PowWow</span>

PowWow is a wireless sensor network (WSN) mote developed by the Cairn team of IRISA/INRIA. The platform is currently based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard radio transceiver and on an MSP430 microprocessor. Unlike other available mote systems, PowWow offers specific features for a very-high energy efficiency:

Virtex is the flagship family of FPGA products currently developed by AMD, originally Xilinx before being acquired by the former. Other current product lines include Kintex (mid-range) and Artix (low-cost), each including configurations and models optimized for different applications. In addition, AMD offers the Spartan low-cost series, which continues to be updated and is nearing production utilizing the same underlying architecture and process node as the larger 7-series devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbas El Gamal</span> American electrical engineer, educator and entrepreneur

Abbas El Gamal is an Egyptian-American electrical engineer, educator and entrepreneur. He is best known for his contributions to network information theory, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and CMOS imaging sensors and systems. He is the Hitachi America Professor of Engineering at Stanford University. He has founded, co-founded and served on the board of directors and technical advisory boards of several semiconductor, EDA, and biotechnology startup companies.

SmartFusion is a family of microcontrollers with an integrated FPGA of Actel. The device includes an ARM Cortex-M3 hard processor core and analog peripherals such as a multi-channel ADC and DACs in addition to their flash-based FPGA fabric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabula, Inc.</span>

Tabula, Inc., was an American fabless semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 2003 by Steve Teig, it raised $215 million in venture funding. The company designed and built three dimensional field programmable gate arrays and ranked third on the Wall Street Journal's annual "Next Big Thing" list in 2012.

Achronix Semiconductor Corporation is an American fabless semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California with an additional R&D facility in Bangalore, India, and an additional sales office in Shenzhen, China. Achronix is a diversified fabless semiconductor company that sells FPGA products, embedded FPGA (eFPGA) products, system-level products and supporting design tools. Achronix was founded in 2004 in Ithaca, New York based on technology licensed from Cornell University. In 2006, Achronix moved its headquarters to Silicon Valley.

iCE is the brand name used for a family of low-power field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) produced by Lattice Semiconductor. Parts in the family are marketed with the "world's smallest FPGA" tagline, and are intended for use in portable and battery-powered devices, where they would be used to offload tasks from the device's main processor or system on chip. By doing so, the main processor and its peripherals can enter a low-power state or be powered off entirely, potentially increasing battery life.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Actel (ACTL) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest
  2. 1 2 Actel (ACTL) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest
  3. ↑ "Corporate Factsheet" (PDF). Actel Corporation. August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  4. ↑ Dylan McGrath, EETimes. "Actel FPGAs cut power drain to target mobile market Archived 2015-05-10 at the Wayback Machine ." Aug 30, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Paul Buckley, EETimes. "Micrium supports Actel SmartFusion FPGAs Archived 2013-07-03 at the Wayback Machine ." March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ EETimes India. "Actel designs IP core for nonvalatile FPGAs Archived 2015-05-10 at the Wayback Machine ." Mar 23, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  7. ↑ EETimes Asia. "Seiko Epson goes with Actel FPGAs for multimedia viewers Archived 2013-05-28 at the Wayback Machine ." Dec 10, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ EETimes Asia. "Free controller cores roll for Actel FPGAs Archived 2013-05-28 at the Wayback Machine ." Feb 8, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ Microsemi press release "Microsemi Completes Tender Offer for Actel Corporation Archived March 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine "
  10. ↑ Mark Lapedus, EE Times. "Microsemi buys Actel for $430 million." Oct 4, 2010. Retrieved Jan 10, 2013.
  11. ↑ MELISSA KORN, Wall Street Journal. "Microsemi to Buy Rival Actel for $430 Million." Oct 4, 2010. Retrieved Jan 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Microsemi buys Actel for $430 million". eetimes.com.
  13. ↑ Andrew Hamm, SJ Business Journal. "The sky's the limit for Actel chips in planned European satellites." August 1, 2003. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  14. ↑ Company Release. "Actel Achieves Key Milestone with its Cost-Effective, Flash-Based FPGAs; Company Ships More Than 1 Million Units Archived August 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ." March 29, 2004. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  15. ↑ EETimes. "Actel Claims To Usher In Era Of 'Programmable System Chip'." July 18, 2005. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  16. ↑ Company Release. "Actel Brings Portable Market In from the Cold With Industry's Lowest Power FPGA Family Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." August 28, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  17. ↑ EETimes. "Actel rolls mixed-signal FPGA with hard ARM core." March 2, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  18. ↑ Electronics Weekly. "FPGA / PLD." Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ John Edwards, EDN. "No room for Second Place." Jun 1, 2006. Retrieved Jan 10, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Introduction To Actel FPGA Architecture PDF | PDF | Logic Gate | Field Programmable Gate Array". Scribd. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  21. ↑ Sergei Skorobogatov. "Breakthrough silicon scanning discovers backdoor in military chip"
  22. ↑ CHES 2012 "Workshop on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems"
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