Actel Introduces 1553B Bus Controller Core for Military, Space and Avionics Markets

Core1553BBC IP Provides a Flexible, Cost-Efficient, Single-Chip FPGA Solution

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 26, 2003 - Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) today announced it has developed a MIL-STD-1553B bus controller core for space, avionics and military applications in which high-reliability and system redundancy are essential. Designed for use with Actel's field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), including the new space-qualified RTAX-S products also announced today, the Core1553BBC intellectual property (IP) core is the only single-chip, FPGA-based, radiation-tolerant MIL-STD-1553B bus controller currently available. The second core in Actel's MIL-STD-1553B product offering, the Actel solution speeds time to market and reduces design and assembly costs when compared with available fixed-semiconductor 1553B products that require separate board components. The company also introduced a fully validated Core1553BBC evaluation board to help simplify design execution and test.

"Building on its long history of delivering industry-leading solutions that meet the highest standards of quality, Actel continues to push forward with its involvement in and development of programmable logic technologies for mission-critical, high-reliability applications," stated Yankin Tanurhan, senior director of Actel's Applications and IP Solutions Group. "Our new Core1553BBC, implemented in our new nonvolatile RTAX-S FPGAs, provides designers with a versatile, cost-efficient, single-chip solution for a broad range of military, space, aircraft and other severe environments. Further, when used with our existing Core1553BRT core, designers have the ability to dynamically choose a bus controller or a remote-terminal solution on one FPGA."

1553BBC Core Key Features
The second core in Actel's MIL-STD-1553B product offering, the Core1553BBC is a complete dual-redundant bus controller that can interface to standard external transceivers. Actel's new bus controller solution provides low-power operation at 12, 16, 20 and 24 MHz. Delivering a complete solution, Actel provides everything needed to incorporate a 1553B bus controller into a system design, including an evaluation board, development tools, documentation and software.

The Core1553BBC Evaluation Board
Since reliability is essential for this application, the core has been thoroughly verified in simulation and on a certified MIL-STD-1553B evaluation board. Programmed with both CorePCI and Core1553BBC functionality, the Core1553BBC evaluation board is a PCI add-in card with a dual-coaxial connection, which allows the personal computer to communicate via the 1553B bus. Included on the evaluation board are an Actel FPGA, synchronous SRAM memory, a 1553B transceiver, two 1553B transformers and a serial port.

Price and Availability
The Core1553BBC is available now with documentation accessible from Actel's Web site at http://www.actel.com/products/ip. Pricing for the Core1553BBC is $9,995 for a single-use netlist. The Core1553BBC evaluation board is priced at $1,800 and is expected to be available in June 2003.

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 approximately 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif., 94086-4533. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com.

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