Microsemi Broadens FPGA Product Portfolio with Highly-integrated IGLOO2

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today unveiled its IGLOO^®2 field programmable gate array (FPGA) family for industrial, commercial aviation, defense, communications and security applications. The non-volatile flash-based IGLOO2 FPGAs have the highest number of mainstream FPGA features including general purpose input/outputs (GPIOs), 5G SERDES interfaces, and PCI Express^® endpoints of any similar device on the market today, and feature the industry's only high-performance memory subsystem.

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When compared to other 5G SERDES-based FPGAs under 150K logic elements (LEs), IGLOO2's high level of integration provides the lowest total system cost versus competitive FPGAs while improving reliability, significantly reducing power and systematically protecting valuable customers' design IPs. 

The IGLOO2 FPGA family requires only two power supplies, versus three for competitive devices. Additionally, the non-volatile configuration of IGLOO2 eliminates the requirement for external flash memory, providing the system architect with a higher level of system integration, performance and reliability.

Microsemi has already engaged with lead customers who plan to use IGLOO2 in a broad range of products including industrial controllers, Ethernet switches, FADEC engine controllers, missile systems, and other applications.

"Our new IGLOO2 FPGAs feature an unparalleled level of functionality, which allows us to address a broader range of opportunities as well as expand our presence in key vertical markets where Microsemi has a strong footprint," said Esam Elashmawi, vice president and general manager of Microsemi's SoC product group. "With our comprehensive product portfolio, Microsemi is the only semiconductor company to offer programmable solutions, analog, digital and mixed-signal ICs under one umbrella. This unique strategic advantage allows us to provide our customers with system-level solutions that lower bill-of-material costs and power consumption in a wide range of products.

"The IGLOO2 FPGA family follows the successful launch of our SmartFusion®2 SoC FPGAs last year, which are shipping to customers now," Elashmawi continued. "The launch of two major FPGA families within a year exemplifies Microsemi's continued commitment to invest in industry leading advanced SoC and FPGA products."

About the IGLOO2 FPGAs

Microsemi's IGLOO2 FPGAs address industry needs for mainstream FPGA features by providing a LUT-based fabric, 5G transceivers, high-speed GPIO, block RAM and DSP blocks in a differentiated, cost- and power-optimized architecture. The new IGLOO2 FPGA architecture offers up to five times more logic density and three times more fabric performance than the previous generation IGLOO family.

The IGLOO2 family offers best-in-class mainstream FPGA features including:

• highest number of GPIOs for any given density node for 5G SERDES FPGAs;
• highest number of 5G transceivers density;
• highest number of PCI compliant 3.3V I/Os in the industry; and
• highest number of PCIe endpoints.

For cost-optimized FPGAs below 150K LEs, IGLOO2 provides the high level of I/O and SERDES integration—which is necessary for I/O expansion, bridging, system management and co-processing— allowing customers to use smaller devices for I/O expansion and bridging solutions. This, coupled with the need for only two power supplies and no external configuration devices, reduces overall system cost and board complexity. 

For the vast number of applications in the communications, industrial, defense and aviation markets that require highly integrated premium features for I/O expansion, bridging and co-processing at a lower cost, IGLOO2 provides a best-in-class solution.

IGLOO2's FPGA features are complemented by a unique built-in high-performance memory subsystem (HPMS) that embeds common user functions such as the industry's largest monolithic embedded SRAM memory blocks. These memories provide fast, predictable low latency to time critical embedded applications such as video, embedded graphics functions and real time Ethernet. Included in the HPMS is up to 512Kbytes of flash memory which allows users to store pertinent system data such as Ethernet MAC IDs, user keys, system configuration and system personalization data. This feature also enables secure boot functions for industry leading processors by storing secondary boot loaders securely on-chip. In addition, the HPMS integrates two DMA controllers and a two-port memory cache (DDR bridges) to efficiently move data within and in-and-out of IGLOO2 to external DDR3 memories for these embedded time critical applications.

Low Power

The IGLOO2 FPGA family delivers the industry's lowest static power by providing 10 times lower static power than comparable FPGAs by utilizing a unique Flash*Freeze real-time power management mode.

Security

To protect valuable customer IP, the family includes built-in design security for all devices including root-of-trust applications. Additionally, IGLOO2 FPGAs continue Microsemi's dominance in SEU immunity due to the inherently reliable flash-based FPGA fabric, ideal for safety critical, mission critical and high temperature systems. IGLOO2 FPGAs are tailored to customers' needs by offering more resources on a smaller device.

IGLOO2 Family

* Total logic may vary based on utilization of DSP and memories in your design. Please see the IGLOO2 Fabric UG for details.

Design Now with IGLOO2 FPGAs

Designers can leverage the Libero^® SoC software toolset for designing IGLOO2 FPGAs. Libero SoC includes FPGA development tools from leading EDA vendors such as Mentor Graphics^® and Synopsys^®. These tools, combined with tools developed by Microsemi, allow customers to quickly and easily manage their Microsemi FPGA designs. An intuitive user interface and push button design flow guide users through the flow while organizing design files and seamlessly managing exchanges between the various tools.

Pricing and Availability

Customers can start designing with IGLOO2 FPGAs now. The M2GL050 is shipping in volume production now with subsequent device configurations rolling out throughout 2013 and early 2014. IGLOO2 FPGAs will be available in extended temperature offerings of up to 125 degrees centigrade temperature junction. The low-cost IGLOO2 Evaluation Kit will be available in August 2013. Pricing for IGLOO2 starts at less than $7USD for high volume orders. For more information about Microsemi's IGLOO2 FPGAs, visit www.microsemi.com/igloo2-fpga or contact sales at [email protected].

About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance, radiation-hardened and highly reliable analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. 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 its new IGLOO2 field programmable gate array product family, 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.

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SOURCE Microsemi Corporation