Altera Announces MAX 7000S Family; In-System Programmability Streamlines Manufacturing; Manufactured on a 0.5-Micron Triple-Layer-Metal EEPROM Process; Provides System-Level Integration Features for Programmable Logic Industry's Most Popular Family.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1995--Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced the MAX 7000S family of programmable logic devices. Since the 1991 introduction of the MAX 7000 family, it has grown to become the most widely used complex programmable logic family in the industry. In that time frame, the designers' needs have shifted, and anticipating that shift, Altera has added in-system programmability (ISP) and JTAG boundary-scan testing with the MAX 7000S family. This new family of devices will be pin-out and programming file-compatible with the existing MAX 7000 and MAX 7000E devices.

"The MAX 7000 product family has achieved a leadership position in the marketplace in just three years," stated Erik Cleage, Altera's vice-president of marketing. "The system-level integration features we have added to the family will ensure its leadership position for years to come."

In-System Programmability (ISP)

The ISP feature eases the engineering prototyping process as well as the manufacturing flow because it eliminates the handling of devices during programming. ISP-capable devices can be mounted to circuit boards using standard pick-and-place equipment and then programmed without the risk of lead damage. Designers may then change their designs as they debug their application. Additionally, ISP allows for remote field upgrades. The ISP feature of the MAX 7000S family complements Altera's patented chip-carrier technology, which allows today's MAX 7000 devices to be used with standard programming equipment.

Advanced Process Technology

The MAX 7000S family is manufactured on a 0.5-micron, triple-layer-metal EEPROM process. This process was developed in conjunction with Altera foundry partners to ensure high-performance and 5-Volt capability. Working with its partners, Altera has developed an aggressive set of process rules that allow improved logic capacity and performance over standard EEPROM memory processes. "Typically, at 0.5-micron geometries, a 3.3-Volt power supply is required," stated Jim Sansbury, Altera's vice-president of technology. "However we were able to develop rules so that we could get high-performance, 5-Volt devices without sacrificing yield or reliability." Altera plans to offer a 3.3-Volt version of the MAX 7000S Family.

Metalization has become an increasingly important aspect of programmable logic design. "Manufacturer's of memory devices have little need to set aggressive metalization rules," stated Mr. Sansbury. "However logic-intensive devices, unlike memories, require large amounts of metal for interconnect, which makes triple-layer-metal processes so important to programmable logic." Altera has developed a technology so that the metal 3 pitch is the same as the metal 2 pitch, which will reduce die size.

"S" Stands for System-Level Integration Features

In 1993, Altera introduced the MAX 7000E versions of its EPM7256, EPM7192, EPM7160, and EPM7128 devices. These enhanced versions offer features that include increased system performance, additional output enables and multiple global clock lines. The popularity of MAX 7000E features has motivated Altera to offer them in all members of the MAX 7000S family including the EPM7096S, EPM7064S, and EPM7032S.

Additionally, the critical mass of JTAG-compliant devices has created a demand for more of these devices, and Altera has added JTAG capability in the EPM7256S, EPM7192S, EPM7160S, and EPM7128S devices.

Altera has added open-collector outputs to the entire MAX 7000S product family. Open-collector outputs are useful for active low signal requirements such as interrupt request signals. -0-

Pricing and Availability

Device             ISP            JTAG            Availability

EPM7256S           Yes             Yes                1996
EPM7192S           Yes             Yes                1996
EPM7160S           Yes             Yes                1996
EPM7128S           Yes             Yes                Q4 1995
EPM7096S           Yes                                1996
EPM7064S           Yes                                1996
EPM7032S           Yes                                1996-0-

The MAX 7000S devices will be offered initially at a 10% premium and later at price parity with existing MAX 7000 devices. The first device will be the EPM7128S for which projected volume pricing is under $10 in 1996.

About Altera

Altera Corporation, founded in 1983, is a world-wide leader in high-performance, high-density programmable logic devices and associated computer aided engineering (CAE) logic development tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that offer on-site programmability to customers. The chips are programmed using tools that run on personal computers or engineering workstations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. The Company offers the broadest line of CMOS programmable logic devices that address high-speed, high-density, and low-power applications. Altera products serve a broad range of market areas, including telecommunications, data communications, computers, and industrial applications. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market using the symbol ALTR. -0-

Note to Editors: Altera, MAX, MAX+PLUS, and FLEX are registered trademarks, and MAX 7000, MAX 7000E, MAX 7000S, and specific device designations are trademarks of Altera Corporation. All other trademarks ar the property of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Altera Corporation

Robert K. Beachler/Shawn Worsell, 408/894-7000

or

Franson, Hagerty and Associates

Susan Cain, 415/462-1605