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Message: ACTEL

ACTEL

posted on Aug 29, 2006 04:43PM
``When talking about the power consumption characteristics of flash-based FPGAs, it is important to recognize that there are two significantly different programmable logic architectures that are labeled ``flash FPGA.`` Actel`s flash-based FPGAs use non-volatile flash for the actual configuration logic such as routing. Other ``flash`` FPGAs are actually more of a hybrid architecture: the configuration logic itself is volatile (SRAM-based), but the configuration data is stored on-chip in a flash memory. In those devices, the configuration is quickly loaded into the SRAM elements from the on-chip flash at startup.``

``When examining most properties of the flash-based FPGA (single chip operation, apparently non-volatile behavior, etc.), these two architectures appear almost identical. When discussing power consumption, however, there is an important difference. Actel`s approach has a distinct advantage in power consumption because the hybrid devices still require the volatile SRAM-based logic to be maintained with power just to keep the configuration active. Using Actel`s approach, the configuration is still active, even with power removed from the device. That means that there is no power spike each time the device configures itself and no constant drain of current to keep the configuration active.``

http://www.fpgajournal.com/articles_2006/20060829_igloo.htm

IMO...Actel should be on the #1 target list of IP infringement.

doni

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