ACTr 2 Family FPGAs Datasheet – Actel

Category: Electronics, Microsemi Corp, Programmable Logic ICS

Overview of ACTr 2 Family FPGAs

The ACTr 2 family of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) by Actel represents their second-generation technology aimed at providing a versatile, high-performance, and fast time-to-production solution for programmable logic applications. These devices are posited as replacements for gate arrays, TTL, and PAL® packages, boasting gate densities equivalent to up to 8000 gate array gates or 20,000 PLD gates.

Key Features:

Device Variety: The family includes the A1225A, A1240A, and A1280A, with varying capacities for logic modules and routes, supporting a range of design specifications. The highest-end model, A1280A, provides up to 1232 logic modules and 998 flip-flops.

Performance Parameters: Data performance is exemplified by 16-bit accumulator performance reaching up to 39 MHz, and the support for in-circuit diagnostic probe pins facilitates speed analysis up to 50 MHz. Additionally, two high-speed, low-skew clock networks bolster system timing and synchronization.

Design and Development Support: Actel’s Designer and Designer Advantage Systems support the FPGAs, offering services such as automatic pin assignment, electrical and design rule validation, automatic placement and routing, timing analysis, and user programming capabilities.

Technology and Fabrication: The devices are manufactured using 1.0-micron CMOS technology and incorporate Actel’s proprietary PLICE® antifuse elements. The design focuses on two-module architecture (C-modules for combinatorial functions and S-modules for sequential functions) while being compatible with previous and future product generations.

Platform and Interface Support: The FPGAs are supported across different platforms like 386/486™ PC, Sun, and HP workstations and offer compatibility with CAE interfaces from several design environments including Cadence, Viewlogic, Mentor Graphics, and OrCAD™.

Packaging and Ordering Options:

The product family comes in various packaging options such as CPGA, PQFP, VQFP, PLCC, and TQFP, each with different lead counts. Temperature range selections are available for commercial, industrial, and military applications, and devices are offered in multiple speed grades. Packaging type and speed can be identified through part number prefix identifiers like ‘PG’ for Ceramic Pin Grid Array and numeric suffixes indicating lead count such as ‘176’.

Notable Performance Metrics:

The ACTr 2 FPGAs boast impressive datapath performance with 16-Bit counters and accumulators operating at frequencies ranging from 36 MHz to 105 MHz, depending on the device model.

Note: Detailed performance benchmarks are derived using the PREP Benchmarks Suite #1, Version 1.2, dated 3-28-93, at commercial worst-case operating conditions.