Microsemi Announces Completion of 26 Million Device-Hours of FPGA Reliability Testing

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., July 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced that an independent organization providing technical and scientific research, development and advisory services to national security space programs has completed reliability testing of Microsemi's commercial-grade Axcelerator® FPGAs. The tests lasted more than four years with an accumulated total of more than 26 million device-hours of testing without a single antifuse failure.

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Microsemi's Axcelerator FPGAs are the commercial equivalent of Microsemi's space-flight RTAX-S/SL FPGAs and share the same CMOS structures, antifuse technology, materials, processing, dimensions and programming attributes. The RTAX-S/SL FPGAs are also radiation-tolerant and include flip-flops protected against radiation-induced upsets by built-in triple-module redundancy (TMR). 

"The rigorous independent high-performance tests and unprecedented amount of associated reliability data prove that our Axcelerator FPGAs are extremely reliable," said Paul Ekas, vice president of Marketing for SoC products at Microsemi.

The testing process involved programming parts with a stringent design featuring excellent observability of failure mechanisms prior to the start of the tests. In addition, the tests included a combination of high temperature operating life (HTOL), low temperature operating life (LTOL) and temperature cycle tests.

About Microsemi's Space Solutions
For the last 55 years, Microsemi has developed products for use in space systems. The company's broad portfolio of radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant space products also includes ASICs, RF components, diodes, transistors, MOSFETS, hybrids, power supplies, custom semiconductor packaging and integrated power distribution systems.

Microsemi's RTAX-S/SL radiation-tolerant FPGAs are specifically designed for space applications using highly reliable and non-volatile antifuse technology, which, unlike SRAM FPGAs, does not require costly and complex mitigation to prevent configuration upsets induced by radiation. They are offered in densities of up to 4 million equivalent system gates and 840 user I/Os. Additional features include hot-swap and cold-sparing capabilities. For space applications that have a need for lower standby current, Microsemi RTAX-SL FPGAs have less than half the standby current of the standard product at worst-case conditions. Additional features include:

• Up to 540 kbits of embedded memory with optional EDAC protection
• Total dose: 300 kRads (functional) and 200 kRads (parametric)
• Single event upset (SEU) immunity
• Multiple packing options (CQFP and CCGA/LGA)
• Screening: E-Flow (Microsemi extended flow), B-Flow (Mil-STD-883B), and V-Flow (MIL-PRF-38535 QML Class V)

Upcoming Microsemi Space Forums
Microsemi's invitation-only, one-day Space Forums address key industry challenges and include technical presentations, new product updates, technology roadmap information and statistical reliability data. The next forum will take place Dec. 4, 2012 in Los Angeles.

About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense and security, aerospace, as well as industrial and medical markets. Products include mixed-signal integrated circuits, SoCs and ASICS; programmable logic solutions; power management products; timing and voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; and Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,000 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

Microsemi and the Microsemi logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Microsemi Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks and service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to the independent reliability testing of its Axcelerator® FPGAs, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Microsemi Corporation