Adding to its broad portfolio of intellectual property (IP) core solutions, Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR) announced the availability of ten new MegaCore functions for the communications system market, including SONET/SDH framers, ATM cell, and PPP packet for transmission systems with data rates of up to 622Mbps (STS-12c/STM-4), a clear channel T3 framer, and a T3 mapper to SONET (STS-1). These IP cores were developed by Altera's Ottawa Technology Center and are the first products resulting from the acquisition of DesignPro, Inc. by Altera in April 2000. These cores can be assembled in a wide variety of configurations to carry ATM cells or PPP packets over any transmission medium, such as SONET/SDH, T-carrier, E-carrier, Ethernet, FDDI, xDSL, Wireless, or Cable Modem networks, or to carry T3 signals over a SONET/SDH optical network. These complex, standard-based cores can be combined with user-defined logic to develop unique solutions in a single Altera programmable logic device (PLDs), thus accelerating the development cycle while providing greater flexibility and lower project risk.
The new SONET/SDH, ATM cell, PPP packet and T3 framing and mapping cores are all delivered with Altera's user-friendly MegaWizard Plug-In graphical user interface, through which parameters are user-selectable and provide optimized device area results and simplified software integration. For example, users can implement a PPP Packet Processor at 622 Mbps in 50 percent of an APEX 20K60E device for a solution costing less than $10 in volume. Altera supplies these cores with the ability for functional simulation using an industry standard VHDL or Verilog simulator, as well as place-and-route and static timing analysis using Altera's Quartus development software. These verification steps can be performed prior to licensing through Altera's OpenCore evaluation feature.
Availability and Pricing:
Altera's new communications cores are available now, complete with user guides.
About Altera Corporation:
Altera Corporation, was founded in 1983 and is a supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets.