Altera Offers Productivity Enhancements for PLD Designers; Synopsys' Synthesis Products Integrated Into MAX+PLUS II Development System; MegaCore Functions Now Shipping; Windows NT 4.0 Support.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 16, 1996--Altera Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ALTR) today announced the shipment of version 7.0 of its MAX+PLUS II development system. This version offers new features that significantly enhance the productivity of PLD (Programmable Logic Device) Refers to a variety of logic chips that are programmable at the customer's site, the customer being the vendor of the finished chip, not the end user. designers, including a direct interface with Synopsys' Design Compiler and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) A type of gate array that is programmed in the field rather than in a semiconductor fab. Containing up to hundreds of thousands of gates, there are a variety of FPGA architectures on the market. Compiler products. Additionally, Altera's first MegaCore offering, the Microperipheral MegaCore Library, which allows engineers to create microprocessor- and microcontroller-based systems without having to design peripherals from scratch, is now available. Finally, version 7.0 supports Microsoft's Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. 4.0 operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. , combining the ease-of-use of Win '95 with the power of Windows NT. Integration Provides Productivity Enhancement for Synopsys Users MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 is the first programmable logic See PLD. tool to provide a direct interface to Synopsys' Design Compiler and FPGA Compiler products. This feature allows engineers to use the intuitive, easy to use graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to of the MAX+PLUS II software to drive the powerful synthesis engines provided by Synopsys. The integrated MAX+PLUS II Text Editor provides a color-coded entry method of Synopsys-style VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) A hardware description language (HDL) used to design electronic systems at the component, board and system level. VHDL allows models to be developed at a very high level of abstraction. . After design entry, the MAX+PLUS II development system will automatically access Design Compiler or FPGA Compiler, and using inter-tool communications, provides the Synopsys tools all of the needed scripts and constraints for optimal synthesis in the chosen Altera architecture. The communication flow is bi-directional, so that error messages from the Synopsys tools are processed by the MAX+PLUS II development system, and the errors in the VHDL source are highlighted in the MAX-PLUS II Text Editor. "With this new capability, Synopsys users can work within the easy to use MAX+PLUS II development system to complete their designs," said Jack Ogawa, Altera's development tools marketing manager. "There is no need to learn the Synopsys scripting language in order to get good results." "Altera's MAX+PLUS II development system is recognized by the industry as an intuitive, easy to use development tool," stated Don Faria, Synopsys' director of FPGA solutions. "Altera and Synopsys have a strong cooperative relationship focused at improving the usability and quality of results of synthesis technology for programmable logic devices. The MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 software can now direct Design Compiler and FPGA Compiler without manual intervention and still obtain similar or better results than hand crafted scripts. The MAX+PLUS II development system and Synopsys synthesis technology provide a powerful combination." Microperipheral MegaCore Library Now Shipping The MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 development system contains the Microperipheral MegaCore Library. This library contains industry standard functions used in the development of microprocessor and microcontroller systems. The library includes: -- UARTs: 6402, 6850, 8251, and 16450 -- 8237 DMA (1) (Digital Media Adapter) See digital media hub. (2) (Document Management Alliance) A specification that provides a common interface for accessing and searching document databases. Controller -- 8255 Parallel Port Controller Using its new OpenCore technology, the MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 development system allows engineers to test out the Microperipheral MegaCore Library at no cost, integrating these functions into designs that may be analyzed within the MAX+PLUS II software. Only if the engineer is satisfied with the design does he need to purchase the license for the library, which enables the software to output a programming file for configuring an Altera programmable logic device. Windows NT 4.0 Support Continuing Altera's commitment to take advantage of the benefits of the latest operating systems, the MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 development system now supports Windows NT 4.0. This version of Windows NT brings the intuitive, easy-to-use Win '95 interface to the capability and power of Windows NT. Foremost of these capabilities is the ability to take advantage of multi-processor PCs. "It is clear that additional processing power will help our customers complete their design cycles much more quickly," stated Jack Ogawa, Altera's development tools marketing manager. "Supporting Windows NT 4.0 provides the ability to take advantage of this power." Availability and Pricing The MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 development system is now available and starts at $495 on the PC and $6,995 on HP, Sun SPARCstation, and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) RS6000 platforms. The Synopsys direct interface feature is now in beta for selected customers with Design Compiler or FPGA Compiler. All Altera customers currently under maintenance will receive the 7.0 upgrade and the Synopsys direct interface feature at no cost. The Microperipheral MegaCore Library is shipped with the MAX+PLUS II version 7.0 development system, and is priced at $7,995 on PC and workstation platforms. 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 (application) Computer Aided Engineering - (CAE) Use of computers to help with all phases of engineering design work. Like computer aided design, but also involving the conceptual and analytical design steps. (CAE (1) (Computer-Aided Engineering) Software that analyzes designs which have been created in the computer or that have been created elsewhere and entered into the computer. ) 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 (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. programmable logic devices that address high-speed, high-density, and lower 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 Stock Market Nasdaq stock market The first electronic stock market listing over 5000 companies. The Nasdaq stock market comprises two separate markets, namely the Nasdaq National Market, which trades large, active securities and the Nasdaq Smallcap Market that trades emerging growth companies. using the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera can be obtained on the World-Wide Web at http://www.altera.com. -0- Note to Editors: Altera, MAX+PLUS II, MegaCore, OpenCore, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or servicemarks of Altera Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. CONTACT: Altera Corporation Robert K. Beachler, Jack Ogawa, 408/894-7000 or Cain Communications Susan Cain, 408/291-2580 |
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