For Release: February 2, 1998
Altera's MegaWizard Plug-Ins Offer the First Tool-Independent Parameterized Logic Cores
- New MAX+PLUS® II Parameterization Tools Eliminate Design-Flow Constraints
- Eases Customization and Integration of Megafunctions
San Jose, Calif., February 2, 1998--Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today announced MegaWizardTM Plug-Ins, parameterization tools linked to its industry leading MAX+PLUS II development software, that offer designers maximum flexibility in integrating complex logic cores, or megafunctions, into their designs. MegaWizard Plug-Ins significantly shorten the process of integrating megafunctions into designs by providing a tool-independent means of parameterizing megafunctions. Designers can take advantage of this capability in
MAX+PLUS II software version 8.2 that begins shipping today.
"Existing parameterization techniques for megafunctions have forced designers into a proprietary design flow," said Bob Beachler, Altera's director of development tools marketing. "Now, with Altera's MegaWizard Plug-Ins, the designer can integrate parameterized megafunctions in any HDL or netlist format, using any EDA tool."
Developer & Customer Benefits
In the past, when an off-the-shelf megafunction did not exactly meet design requirements, engineers were forced to either pay for a customized version, or purchase the source code and modify the function themselves. Parameterization with MegaWizard Plug-Ins solves this problem economically by allowing engineers to modify megafunctions, without directly changing the source code. Since designs parameterized with MegaWizard Plug-Ins can be used in any design flow, customers can employ these plug-ins to promote internal design-reuse. Third-party megafunction developers likewise benefit because they can now streamline their development process by providing a single megafunction that can be easily modified by the customer.
Ease of Use for Developers & Users
The MegaWizard Plug-In process consists of three steps. First, the megafunction developer writes a small program defining a graphical user interface (GUI) for a MegaWizard Plug-In. This GUI is platform- and tool-independent, and allows the developer to display the desired parameters and boundary conditions of a specific megafunction. Upon instantiation of this megafunction, the associated MegaWizard Plug-In comes up and captures the designer's desired parameters. During compilation of the design, the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager, which is resident in MAX+PLUS II, interprets and passes those parameters to the megafunction; the synthesis routines within MAX+PLUS II then create the desired functionality.
MAX+PLUS II Design Support
The MegaWizard Plug-In Manager is resident in the just-released 8.2 version of Altera's leading MAX+PLUS II development system for PC and workstation platforms. The MAX+PLUS II software offers an architecture-independent development environment, which enables engineers to target designs to any of Altera's device families. MegaWizard Plug-Ins are available for the Library of Parameterized Modules (LPM), an industry standard set of configurable functions including arithmetic, memory, counter, and multiplexor functions. Future Plug-Ins are being developed for Altera's entire library of MegaCoreTM functions, including FFT, PCI, and DSP megafunctions. MAX+PLUS II software provides seamless integration with tools from Cadence, Exemplar Logic, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Synplicity, Viewlogic, and other leading EDA vendors.
AMPP Partner Support
Altera has provided the underlying code and training to members of its industry-leading Altera Megafunctions Partners Program (AMPPSM). Established in 1995, AMPP is an alliance between Altera and megafunction developers which brings the advantages of design reuse to the users of Altera PLDs.
"Before the development of Altera's MegaWizard Plug-Ins, third-party megafunction developers such as ourselves had to respond to customization requests on a case-by-case basis," said Newton Abdalla, director of business development at megafunction developer CAST Inc., of Pomona, New York. "MegaWizard Plug-Ins streamline our design efforts, enabling us to better respond to our customer needs."
About Altera
Altera Corporation, founded in 1983, is a worldwide leader in high-performance, high-density programmable logic devices and associated computer aided engineering (CAE) logic development tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that offer on-site programmability to customers. The chips are programmed using tools that run on personal computers or engineering work stations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. The company offers the broadest line of CMOS programmable logic devices that address high-speed, high-density, and low-power applications. Altera products serve a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, data communications, computers, and industrial applications. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera can be obtained on the worldwide web at http://www.altera.com.
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