Jasper Electronics Leverages Actel Fusion Reference Platform to Rapidly Deploy MicroTCA Power Module


Single-chip, Flash-based Fusion PSCs Deliver on the Promise of MicroTCA

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 21 -- Further enabling the growth of the MicroTCA market, Actel Corporation (NASDAQ:ACTL) today announced that Jasper Electronics has developed a MicroTCA power supply, the TCA380, using Actel's MicroTCA Power Module (PM) reference platform. Based on the Actel Fusion Programmable System Chip (PSC), the platform enables the rapid deployment of systems based on the MicroTCA specification, an emerging global standard that defines a new low-cost, small form factor chassis and backplane architecture for high-performance, high-availability systems. With broad adoption anticipated in telecommunications, industrial, medical and military applications, the overall MicroTCA market is expected to grow to $3.5 billion by the year 2010.

"In order to take advantage of the rapidly expanding MicroTCA market opportunity, we need silicon providers who are committed to delivering highly integrated, cost-effective solutions that meet the requirements of the standard," said Robert Nishimoto, president, Jasper Electronics. "Not only is Actel the only silicon provider to offer a MicroTCA reference platform, but they also uniquely integrate mixed-signal capabilities and reliable flash memory on a single chip. This innovation has enabled us to dramatically reduce our bill-of-materials cost and offer customers a low-cost, highly reliable power module for immediate integration into their MicroTCA systems."

As the world's first mixed-signal FPGA, the Actel Fusion PSC integrates analog, embedded flash memory and a live-at-power-up field programmable gate array (FPGA) fabric in a single chip, enabling a more than 50 percent reduction in part count, cost, and board space. Additionally, studies have shown that nonvolatile flash-based FPGAs, like Actel's Fusion products, are more resistant to neutron-induced errors than SRAM FPGAs. This reliability is important for the MicroTCA markets such as medical, telecommunications, industrial, and military and avionics systems.

Compliant with the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) MicroTCA power module requirements, Jasper's TCA380 is a full-featured MicroTCA power supply with 380W of output power. It provides 16 programmable payload channels up to 9.4A in 40mA increments as well as 16 power management channels. The input voltage range is -36 to -72Vdc and the supplies are fully hot swappable. The TCA380 is also RoHS compliant.

"By providing extremely high levels of integration for both digital and analog functionality in a single chip, Fusion is opening new market and revenue opportunities for our customers," said Rich Brossart, vice president of product marketing at Actel. "Our Fusion-based MicroTCA power module reference design has enabled Jasper Electronics to quickly deliver a MicroTCA standard-compliant power module and help facilitate the proliferation of low-cost, high-availability, small form factor MicroTCA modules."

Conformant with MicroTCA version 1.0 and the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) version 2.0, the Fusion-based power module design is the first MicroTCA reference platform to be offered by any silicon provider. Actel's platform offers unprecedented integration, improved manufacturability, flexibility and reliability versus typical power module designs.

Pricing and Availability

Free of charge to qualified customers, the power module reference design is available now. For more information on pricing and availability, contact Actel.

For Jasper's TCA380, the product warranty is two years. For more information on pricing and availability, contact Jasper Electronics.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is the leader in single-chip FPGA solutions. The company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, Calif., 94043-4655.

For more information about Actel, visit www.actel.com/. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835).

About Jasper Electronics

Founded in 1995, Jasper Electronics has evolved into a leadership position in the power supply industry. Jasper provides a broad range of products and custom design services. Products lines include external and desk top supplies, open frame, fan cooled, redundant hot plug supplies, cPCI, uTCA and power systems to 10kW. Jasper operates two facilities in the US and major manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China. Engineering support and design services are provided in all locations to provide the customer with near-by engineering resources.

For more information, contact Jasper Electronics at (714) 917-0749 or visit http://www.jasperelectronics.com/.

Source: Actel Corporation

CONTACT: Stephanie Mrus of Actel Corporation, +1-650-318-4614, stephanie.mrus@actel.com; or Lonnie Friend of Jasper Electronics,
+1-310-871-8550, l.friend@jasperelectronics.com

Web site: http://www.actel.com/
http://www.jasperelectronics.com/

All Topics