MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 16 Oct. 2006. Actel Corp. in Mountain View, Calif., is embracing the Micro Telecom Computing Architecture (MicroTCA) standard with a roadmap of reference platforms for system management using field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology.
Leveraging the company's single-chip mixed-signal Fusion Programmable System Chip (PSC), these reference designs include hardware, software, and intellectual property
Built on the AdvancedTCA (ATCA) specification, MicroTCA is an emerging global standard driven by the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG). The overall MicroTCA market opportunity is $3.5 billion in 2010, according to industry estimates.
Actel identified five reference designs along its roadmap to address the MicroTCA specification: a power module, an advanced mezzanine card, a cooling module, a MicroTCA carrier hub and a power supply.
Actel's first offerings include the power module and the advanced mezzanine card. Conformant with MicroTCA version 1.0 and the Intelligent Platform Management Interface version 2.0, the Fusion-based power module design offers unprecedented integration, resulting in a more than 50 percent reduction in part count, cost, and board space as well as improved manufacturability, flexibility and reliability versus typical power module designs.
Actel's advanced mezzanine card design conforms to PICMG AMC.0 ECROO1 RC1.0 and allows designers to integrate payload and management functions.
In 2007, Actel plans to deliver the cooling module, the MicroTCA carrier hub (MCH) and the power supply reference designs. Actel's cooling module will offer temperature and voltage monitoring for fans. Performing shelf and carrier management functions, Actel's MCH will provide integrated baseboard and network management and support the MicroTCA Carrier Management Controller (MCMC) interface. Later in the year, Actel expects to offer the conversion of AC power to 48-volt DC input via its power supply offering.
For more information contact Actel online at www.actel.com.
