Clear Logic Adds Six Devices to Its CL7000 Families of Low-Cost Altera Max Replacements; MAX 7000 Replacements Can Cost 75% Less.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000

Today Clear Logic(R), Inc. introduced six new members of its CL7000E and CL7000S families of pin-compatible replacements for Altera(R)'s (Nasdaq:ALTR) MAX(R) 7000E and 7000S CPLDs.

The new 3,200 gate CL7160E and CL7160S Laser-Processed Logic Devices (LPLDs(TM)) replace the Altera MAX 7160E and MAX 7160S. Similarly, the 3,750 gate CL7192E and CL7192S, and the 5,000 gate CL7256E and CL7256S devices replace Altera's MAX 7192E, 7192S, 7256E and 7256S products respectively. The new LPLDs are guaranteed to function in the same socket as the corresponding Altera MAX device, but cost as much as 75% less than their Altera counterparts. No customer engineering effort is required.

According to Don Knowlton, Clear Logic's vice president of marketing, &uot;Our introduction of these new LPLD products rounds out our offering of 5 volt Vcc CL7000 replacements for Altera's MAX 7000E and MAX 7000S families of CPLDs. Additions to our 3.3-volt CL7000A family of LPLD replacements for Altera's 3.3 volt MAX 7000A CPLDs are currently in development and will be introduced in coming months.

&uot;Using Clear Logic LPLDs is a no-brainer for our customers. They simply email their MAX 7000 programming file to Clear Logic and, within two weeks, we deliver working prototypes. Within four weeks after prototype approval, we ship production quantities. So far we have successfully converted more than 600 Altera MAX 7000 programming files to Clear Logic replacement devices. They work the first time in the corresponding Altera socket. This pin-compatibility and the ease of implementation make CL7000 LPLDs ideal second sources for MAX 7000 CPLDs. With prices as low as 1/4 those of the Altera products, we obviously offer substantial cost savings.

&uot;Our aggressive program of new product introductions clearly demonstrates our commitment to offer pin-compatible replacements for all of the most popular Altera programmable devices. The various versions of MAX 7000 CPLDs are extremely popular with customers. This introduction allows Clear Logic to offer large cost reduction opportunities for many more customer designs,&uot; Knowlton concluded.

Compatible Logic Structures and Functionality

Clear Logic LPLDs use logic structures similar to those in Altera MAX 7000 CPLDs. Both families of devices have macrocell-based AND arrays interconnected by a central switching array. The pin-out and the I/O characteristics of both companies' devices are the same. In fact, LPLDs will directly accept the programming files (bitstreams) from Altera MAX 7000 designs without any modification and will function interchangeably in the same socket.

MAX 7000 Programming Files Converted to Laser Instructions

Clear Logic transfers MAX 7000 programming files into laser-configuration instructions at its factory, using ClearShot(R) extraction software. At the time of conversion, the process generates test vectors that are based on the customer's MAX 7000 programming file. These automatically generated test vectors, combined with test circuitry embedded in the CL7000 architecture allow Clear Logic to achieve 100% fault coverage. The entire process takes less than an hour and involves no customer-side engineering.

LPLD Technology Eliminates 430,000 Transistors

Clear Logic is able to offer substantially lower prices than Altera because the company's LPLD technology results in a 50% smaller die size, achieved by eliminating all the transistors required for programmability in corresponding Altera MAX 7000 CPLDs. For example, there are almost half a million fewer transistors in Clear Logic's CL7256S devices than there are in Altera's 7256S CPLDs. The lower transistor count of CL7256 and other Clear Logic LPLDs is realized by the following architectural innovations:

--   Laser-configured Interconnect Array -- Altera's MAX 7000
     Programmable Interconnect Array (PIA) requires eleven transistors
     to configure each PIA connection point. Six transistors handle
     programming and data storage. Four transistors control bus
     contention by holding the signal off during power up. One
     transistor actually switches the logic path.

--   Clear Logic's LPLD architecture has no interconnect array
     transistors. Once a MAX 7000 design is complete the device
     configuration is embedded in the MAX 7000 programming file.
     Neither the EEPROM elements nor the configuration transistors are
     needed for the laser-processing of Clear Logic's CL7000 devices.
     Appropriate laser links are cut to achieve functionality that is
     compatible to the MAX 7000 CPLD without any PIA transistors. As a
     result Clear Logic's laser-configured interconnect array (LIA)
     takes up 72% less silicon area than does Altera's MAX 7000
     programmable interconnect array (PIA).

--   Product Term AND Array -- In the MAX 7000 AND array, an EEPROM
     element with six transistors is required to configure each input
     term in the MAX 7000 AND array. One set of three transistors
     controls the signal while a second set of three transistors
     controls the inverted signal. As with the LIA, the MAX 7000
     programming file has all the information about the configuration
     of the AND array input terms. As a result, input term
     configuration can be implemented by cutting any of three laser
     links, eliminating the need for all but a single transistor.
     Overall, there is an 84% reduction in the transistor count in the
     CL7000 AND array.

Lower Power/Faster Delays

The laser links in Clear Logic LPLDs are smaller, draw no power, and have less capacitance than transistors. As a result, the three new CL7000 devices have half as much parasitic capacitance as comparable Altera devices, resulting in faster delays and lower power consumption. The CL7160, CL7192 and CL7256 are all available with one-speed grade faster delays than their MAX 7000 counterparts. The faster speeds are critical in networking and telecommunications applications.

No Customer-side Engineering

Customers get prototype CL7000 devices by simply emailing their Altera MAX 7000 programming file to Clear Logic. Within two weeks, Clear Logic will deliver prototypes are guaranteed to work in the same socket as the Altera device. Clear Logic does not charge customers NRE for design conversion or prototypes. Thus, there is absolutely no risk associated with using a CL7000 LPLD to replace Altera MAX 7000 CPLDs.

No Large Minimum Orders

Clear Logic's ClearFire(R) laser process allows multiple customer designs to be produced on a single wafer. As a result, Clear Logic does not require large minimum quantity orders. CL7000 LPLDs are tested twice at the factory. Prototypes are packaged locally and production quantities are packaged overseas. Production quantities are delivered within four to six weeks -- about the same amount of time required to receive pre-programmed MAX 7000 CPLDs from distribution.

Pricing, Packaging &Availability

Clear Logic's new CL7000 family LPLDs are available now in production quantities in the following speed grades and prices.

                                     Fastest
Clear Logic  Replaces Altera  Gates   Speed   Price   (High Volume)
CL7160E      EPM7160E         3,000   5 ns    $2.75 (CL7160EQC100-15 )
CL7160S      EPM7160S         3,000   5 ns    $2.75 (CL7160SQC100-15 )
CL7192E      EPM7192E         3,750   6 ns    $4.60 (CL7192EQC160-15)
CL7192S      EPM7192S         3,750   6 ns    $4.60 (CL7192SQC160-15)
CL7256E      EPM7256E         5,000   6 ns    $5.25 (CL7256EQC160-20)
CL7256S      EPM7256S         5,000   6 ns    $5.80 (CL7256SQC208-15)

Selected devices are available in 84-pin PLCC, 100-pin PQFP, 100-pin TQFP, 160-pin PQFP, 208-pin PQFP, and 208-pin RQFP.

Clear Logic, Inc. was founded in 1996 to offer a no-NRE, quick turn-around cost reduction path for designs that have been implemented using Altera programmable logic products. The company employs proprietary software that converts the programming file from an Altera design to a laser-configured device. Clear Logic has no NRE charges or minimum order sizes.

Called Laser-Processed Logic Devices or LPLDs, Clear Logic devices are comparable to pre-programmed CPLDs, with comparable delivery lead times. They arrive at the customer's site fully pre-configured and ready to plug in the socket. Clear Logic LPLD devices are guaranteed to function in the same socket as their programmable counterparts. Clear Logic's World Wide Web site is www.clear-logic.com.

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDTI) is a major investor in Clear Logic.

Note to Editors: Clear Logic, LASIC, ClearFire, ClearShot, and NoFault are registered trademarks of Clear Logic Corporation. LPLD and Test Cell are trademarks of Clear Logic Corporation. Altera and MAX are registered trademarks of Altera Corporation.