Altera Supports Mixed-Voltage Systems with New MultiVolt Interface; Allows Altera Devices to Interface with Parts Having Different Logic Level; CICC Paper Unveils Patent Pending Circuitry for FLEX 10KA Family Devices

Business Wire, April 7, 1997

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1997--Altera Corporation (NASDAQ:ALTR) today unveiled MultiVolt(TM) interface for mixed voltage systems. Details of this innovation will appear in a paper published at the 1997 Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (CICC) entitled "A 3.3-V Programmable Logic Device that Addresses Low Power Supply and Interface Trends." The paper describes the patent pending circuit techniques that enable Altera's low-voltage devices to interface with multiple voltage levels.

The 5-V interface standard has lasted for decades, but the drive to deep sub-micron technologies has required a shift to lower voltage levels. At 0.35-micron process technologies, a 3.3-V power supply is required, and many of these devices require a 3.3n lower voltage levels will be required for smaust have the capability to interface with these different devices.

The MultiVolt interface meets the increasing demand for compatibility with devices of different voltages. The MultiVolt interface separates the power supply voltage from the output voltage and enables Altera devices powered at a given core voltage level to interface with devices using previous and future generation interface voltage levels. In Altera's FLEX 10KA family of devices, patent pending circuit techniques isolate and protect the 3.3-V core from the potentially damaging 5-V interface levels on the I/O pins.

"Our system designs often require many different voltage levels," said Jeff Purnell, hardware manager in the Workgroup Business Unit at Cisco Systems. "We believe the MultiVolt interface will provide us a great deal of flexibility for interfacing logic at different levels."

MultiVolt Interface Spans Altera's Most Popular Families

Altera's MAX(R) and FLEX(R) families of devices support this mixed voltage interface. Altera's 5-V devices, the MAX 7000, MAX 9000, FLEX 8000, and FLEX 10K product families, support interfaces to 3.3-V devices. Altera's 3.3-V offering, the FLEX 10KA family, supports 5-V and 2.5-V interface levels in addition to 3.3 V. -0-

MultiVolt Interface Voltage Levels

Core Supply Voltage      Interface Levels Supported
    5 V                      5 V, 3.3 V
    3.3 V                    5 V, 3.3 V, 2.5 V
    2.5  V                   3.3 V, 2.5 V, 1.8 V
    1.8 V                    3.3 V, 1.8 V, Future Level

-0-

Forward-looking statements in this release, including without limitation statements relating to the ability of the Company's products and product features to meet customer needs and the patentability of the Company's inventions, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation risks that the Company's products may not achieve market acceptance and that patents ultimately may not be issued on the Company's inventions. Please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available from the Company without charge, for further information.

About Altera

Altera Corporation, founded in 1983, is a world-wide leader in high-performance, high-density pe semiconductor chips that offer on-site prograrket. The Company offers the broadest line ofommunications, computers, and industrial appli All other trademarks are the property of the Susan Cain, 408/341-8960

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