New Firmware Catalog Enhances Actel's Tool Suite for Embedded Software Developers

Offering real-time firmware access and updates for Actel low-power FPGAs and mixed-signal FPGAs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., September 21, 2009 — Actel Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTL) continues its commitment to enhancing the embedded processor development tool suite with the release of its new Firmware Catalog. This new tool streamlines the locating and generating of firmware that is compatible with Intellectual Property (IP) cores used in Actel embedded processor based low-power IGLOO®, ProASIC®3 or Fusion mixed-signal FPGA designs.

The Firmware Catalog is a standalone executable program that enables the browsing, selection, and GUI configuration of firmware drivers, hardware abstraction layers and design examples. Through a web connection to a remote repository, the Firmware Catalog dynamically reminds the user of new cores or core versions available for download. It also provides detailed descriptions and direct access to user guides. When used with Actel's SoftConsole Eclipse-based embedded software development environment, developers are provided a feature rich and comprehensive system for rapid production of C and C++ executables for Actel's ARM® Cortex™-M1 and Core8051s soft processor designs. The Firmware Catalog can also be used with other popular software IDEs currently available.

"The new Firmware Catalog gives embedded system designers an intuitive and streamlined approach to accessing drivers and other firmware source code that is compatible with IP cores used in Actel FPGA design," said Jim Davis, vice president of software and systems engineering. "The combination of Actel's Libero IDE and IP library for FPGA hardware design plus the Firmware Catalog and SoftConsole for software design provide a powerful design tool system enabling our customers to quickly bring their embedded systems to market."

For more information on Libero IDE, Firmware Catalog, and SoftConsole, visit www.actel.com/products/software

The Firmware Catalog, SoftConsole IDE, and Libero IDE can be downloaded for free from www.actel.com/download/software.

About Actel

Actel is the leader in low-power FPGAs and mixed-signal FPGAs, offering the most comprehensive portfolio of system and power management solutions. Power Matters. Learn more at www.actel.com.