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Altera Corporation in conjunction with Bellnix Co, Ltd., Linear Technology, National Semiconductor, Texas Instruments and Volterra Semiconductor claim they now have available a complete power management solution for users of Altera's FPGAs. This collaboration, including the introduction of new PowerPlay technology in Quartus II software version 4.2, helps customers manage power consumption while optimizing the performance of their Stratix II designs.

"Using Bellnix's ultra-fast, high-efficiency DC-DC converter BSV-H series, customers can expect superior stability and power characteristics for Stratix II FPGAs," said Shotaro Suzuki, president of Bellnix Co, Ltd.

According to Todd Reimund, Linear's Director of Marketing, " Our solutions optimize Stratix II performance and simplify the power design by providing excellent transient response and precision low voltage regulation."

"National Semiconductor has developed best-in-class power management products and design tools to address the challenge of moving to 90nm devices," said Jeff Bessa, America's Marketing Director for National Semiconductor.

"TI leverages its comprehensive set of high-performance power management products and technical support to address every power management design requirement of tomorrow's FPGAbased applications," said Greg Waterfall, director of product development for TI's power management products.

William Numann, Vice President of marketing for Volterra Semiconductor Corp. said, "Volterra is pleased to offer a series of high frequency, integrated step-down switching regulators that are ideal for powering Altera's Stratix II FPGAs."

Altera took many steps in the development of its 90nm Stratix II and Cyclone(TM) II devices to control power consumption while delivering increased performance. Stratix II devices are the first high-performance, high-density FPGAs to utilize the combination of low-k dielectric material and a new, more efficient logic structure, called adaptive logic modules (ALMs), to obtain maximum performance while minimizing power consumption. Additionally, Altera optimized voltage thresholds, changed the length of transistors to maximize performance of critical paths, and minimized static power of non-critical paths within the device.