Unique Memec Delivers Automotive Development Kit to Support Actel FPGAs

Module Incorporates Actel SX-A FPGAs and Memec Design's Controller Area Network IP Core to Ease Automotive System Design

SAN DIEGO and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., February 9, 2004 - Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) and Unique Memec today announced the availability of the Actel Automotive Development Kit, a complete solution that enables engineers to use Actel field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to create designs for automotive applications. Developed by Memec Design and distributed globally by Unique Memec, the kit combines an Actel FPGA-based development board with Memec Design's controller area network (CAN) intellectual property (IP) core. The development kit includes four CAN drivers and Actel's automotive-grade SX-A FPGA devices in the Memec Design P160 adapter card form-factor.

"CAN is now the serial bus standard of choice for the automotive industries in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific," said Phil Sansone, president, Unique Memec Americas. "With this development kit, including Memec Design's CAN IP core and Actel's FPGAs, Unique Memec has taken the guesswork out of designing CAN-based systems. We expect designers to use the Actel Automotive Development Kit to quickly make their automotive concepts a reality and get their designs out on the road."

Barry Marsh, vice president, product marketing at Actel, said, "Actel is committed to providing robust, high-reliability solutions to the automotive market. Combining our automotive temperature range SX-A FPGAs with Memec Design's proven intellectual property optimized for our programmable logic devices and Unique Memec's development system, we can deliver a comprehensive, best-in-class solution that simplifies designs and shortens time to market."

The Actel Automotive Development Kit is customized for use with Actel's low-power, high-performance SX-A family of antifuse-based FPGAs qualified for operation at ambient temperatures from -40º C to 125º C and junction temperatures up to 150°C. These automotive-grade devices are optimized for in-cab control and interconnect functions for a range of telematic applications, such as navigation, speech recognition, control/comfort systems, passenger monitors, and heads-up displays.

The Actel Automotive Development Kit is a standalone module that provides four CAN drivers and an Actel SX-A device in the Memec Design P160 adapter card form-factor. Although a standalone system, the Memec Design adapter card form-factor will be compatible with future automotive FPGA system boards. The module features an Actel A54SX72A FPGA in a 208-pin PQFP package. It can be assembled with a socket or with the FPGA directly mounted on the board using the same footprint. In addition to the CAN controller IP core, the FPGA design also incorporates Memec Design's 6809 processor IP core, which operates the CAN demo from external flash memory and UART IP core for communications with the host computer. The module also includes a header for Actel's Silicon Explorer II debugging system, enabling 100 percent real-time observation and analysis of a device's internal logic nodes without wasted design iterations.

Pricing and Availability

The Memec Design Actel Automotive Development Kit is immediately available from Unique Memec for $250. A single-use license of Memec's CAN core is available for licensing from Memec. Please access www.unique.na.memec.com/actel_amr or call 1-800-711-8841 for more information.

About Unique Memec

Unique Memec is a member of The Memec Group, the world's leading distributor of advanced-technology semiconductors. A focused line card enables Unique Memec to provide its OEM customer base with vast product knowledge, design expertise and a team of highly trained field applications engineers that specializes in proprietary technologies and system-level solutions. When faced with critical time-to-market constraints, Unique Memec analyzes customer design schedules, anticipates requirements, and orders materials accordingly, ensuring successful product introduction. Unique Memec also invests in technical resources and programs with high return on investment, which adds value to and creates demand for their suppliers' products. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.unique.memec.com/.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) based on antifuse and flash technologies, high-performance intellectual property (IP) cores, software development tools and design services, targeted for the high-speed communications, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) replacement and radiation-tolerant markets. Founded in 1985, Actel employs more than 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA, 94043-4655. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com.

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