Actel Introduces New Chip-Scale Packages for eX Family of FPGAs

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its commitment to leading-edge assembly technology, Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL), a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, today announced the availability of new chip-scale packages for its eX family of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The new packages provide the smallest footprint in the industry for devices of comparable density. The eX products are already utilized in portable designs due to the family's small packaging and low power features. The new package offerings will further reduce board space by 66 percent, making Actel's eX family even more attractive for e-Appliance, communications and computer networking applications where size limitations are critical.

``We have had tremendous success with the eX family in the portable market,'' said Ken O'Neill, director of product marketing at Actel. ``The new chip-scale packaging provides an even smaller footprint for these applications, which must meet increasingly demanding miniaturization requirements. By featuring a low-cost, low-power and small footprint option for designers, the eX family has been instrumental in helping Actel continue its dominance of the logic integration market for consumer and e-Appliance applications.''

First introduced in September 2000, the eX family consists of three devices: the eX64, eX128 and eX256 with system gate densities of 3,000, 6,000 and 12,000, respectively. Actel offers a range of chip-scale packages, including 49-, 128- and 180-ball packages.

About the eX Family of Devices

Offering a low-power sleep mode for extra battery power savings, the eX family of devices is optimized for portable applications. Additionally, the single-chip solutions are competitively priced compared with the cost of complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), low-density gate array ASICs or two-chip FPGA alternatives. The eX family is currently being designed into cable and xDSL modems, digital photography applications, MP3 Internet recorders/players, personal digital assistants and digital set-top boxes. The combination of eX with simple-to-use Actel software tools results in faster design turns and time to market.

Pricing and Availability

The eX64, the 3,000-gate device, is available now in a 49-ball chip-scale package for $3.00/piece in quantities of 10,000. By the end of June 2001, all planned combinations of eX devices and chip-scale packages will be shipping in volume.

ABOUT ACTEL

Actel Corporation is a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) based on antifuse and flash technologies and embedded programmable gate arrays (EPGAs) based on SRAM technology, as well as high-performance intellectual property (IP) cores, software development tools and design services. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Actel employs approximately 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is located at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, 94086-4533. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com .

NOTE: The Actel name and logo are registered trademarks of Actel Corporation. All other trademarks and servicemarks are the property of their respective owners.