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E Ink Selects Actel's Flash-Based FPGAs for Use in Next-Generation Electronic Paper Display Controller

Posted on: Thursday, 8 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Actel Corporation today announced that its flash-based ProASIC3 field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been selected by E Ink Corporation for use within its next-generation electronic paper display controllers. Providing the flexibility of re-programmability in a low-cost, low-power, small-footprint device, Actel's single-chip ProASIC3 FPGA will transfer image information from the host processor to active matrix electronic paper displays. E Ink's technology will benefit multiple portable end applications, including consumer handhelds, PDAs, E-books and mobile handsets.

E Ink's electronic paper display technology possesses a paper-like high contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption and a thin, light form. It provides the viewer the experience of reading from paper, while having the power of updateable information and memory retention even when the display's power is turned off. Key to the design of E Ink's electronic paper display is low power consumption, as battery-operated mobile devices make greatest use of the technology.

"Actel's ProASIC3 FPGA provided E Ink with the flexibility of re-programmability in a small-footprint, single-chip device," said Holly Gates, lead engineer at E Ink. "Further, the live at power-up nature of the device allowed us to meet product specifications and maximize battery life as compared to other FPGA alternatives considered for our electronic paper display technology."

"E Ink's deployment of Actel's single-chip, low-cost ProASIC3 devices in its cutting-edge electronic paper display technology underscores the advantages that nonvolatile FPGAs provide for today's portable applications," said Martin Mason, director of silicon product marketing at Actel. "Providing low power, small footprint and reduced cost on a single chip, Actel's FPGAs uniquely possess a mix of ASIC-like attributes in a reprogrammable FPGA -- features highly sought after by the ever-growing community of portable electronics designers."

About ProASIC3

The industry's lowest cost FPGA solution Actel's live at power-up, low-power, highly secure ProASIC3/E devices deliver PCI performance and are the industry's first FPGAs with on-chip user flash memory. The ten devices in the ProASIC3/E families, ranging in density from 30,000 to 3-million system gates, deliver technology-leading integrated secure in-system programmability (ISP). Building on the success of Actel's flash-based ProASIC Plus family, the fine-grained, single-chip architecture and nonvolatile flash configuration memory make Actel's ProASIC3/E offering a strong ASIC alternative. The ProASIC3/E design methodology supports popular FPGA and ASIC tool flows, reducing time to market and permitting designers to migrate easily between FPGA and ASIC solutions for applications in the consumer, networking and communications, in-cab automotive, computing and avionics markets.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is the leader in single-chip FPGA solutions. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, Calif., 94043-4655. For more information about Actel, visit http://www.actel.com/. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835).

About E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation is the world's leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, watches, clocks, and public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners TOPPAN Printing Company, Royal Philips Electronics, The Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, CNI Ventures, a division of Gannett Co., Inc, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Vossloh Information Technologies, and Motorola, Inc. E Ink news can be found at http://www.eink.com/.

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

Actel Corporation

CONTACT: Stephanie Mrus of Actel Corporation, +1-650-318-4614, orstephanie.mrus@actel.com; or Starlayne Meza of Porter Novelli,+1-408-369-4600, ext. 629, or starlayne.meza@porternovelli.com, for ActelCorporation

Web site: http://www.eink.com/http://www.actel.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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