Altera MAX II Devices Reduce Costs and Increase Manufacturing Flexibility for Leapster L-MAX Handheld
Altera CPLD Adds TV-Compatible Video Capability to Award-Winning Leapster Platform
San Jose, Calif., Sept. 14, 2005—Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced that LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. reduced costs and increased flexibility in the manufacturing process for its new Leapster L-MAXTM Learning Game System by integrating Altera® MAX® II CPLDs into the learning platform. MAX II devices enable the Leapster L-MAX handheld to connect to a television, providing an interactive big-screen learning experience for four- to ten-year-olds.
“The MAX II device helps us stay competitive in the extremely price-sensitive consumer electronics market. We have been able to implement the digital signal processing more economically than with alternative solutions and reduce costs at the manufacturing level,” said Mike Chai, senior vice president of research and development for LeapFrog Enterprises.
LeapFrog uses the MAX II device to convert the display information for the Leapster –L-MAX handheld into TV-compatible video signals. In similar applications, a digital signal processor often performs this function. The low cost of the MAX II device family enabled LeapFrog to use a CPLD to accomplish the same function at a lower price. LeapFrog’s decision to use MAX II devices highlights the growing trend toward the use of Altera’s programmable logic devices to integrate functions that would otherwise be performed by general-purpose or application-specific devices.
“Using programmable logic as an alternative to an ASIC or ASSP provides product developers with compelling advantages in terms of flexibility and cost,” said Danny Biran, vice president of product and corporate marketing at Altera. “As this trend continues, Altera’s leadership in low-cost programmable logic devices will further drive the adoption of our solutions by consumer electronics manufacturers, and in turn support the proliferation of exciting new products like the Leapster L-MAX learning game system.”
For more information regarding MAX II CPLDs, please visit the Altera website at www.altera.com/max2.
To see how customers have used Altera products in consumer applications, visit the consumer section of Altera’s customer showcase at www.altera.com/consumersuccess.
About the Leapster L-MAX Learning Game System
The Leapster L-MAX learning game system continues the success of LeapFrog’s award-winning LeapsterTM handheld, the first educational option for parents whose kids wanted a portable gaming system. The Leapster L-MAX learning game system marks the company’s next entry into the video game arena. By combining handheld learning and TV-screen-based learning, the Leapster L-MAX learning game system offers the ultimate in educational video gaming.
About Altera
Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is the world’s pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at www.altera.com.
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