1998-11-02 , S/IC-2036/21
Product News From Philips Semiconductors

32, 64 and 128 Macrocell Devices Feature Improved Clocking, In-System Programming with New Design Software

Philips Semiconductors today announced immediate volume availability of enhanced CoolRunner™ 32-, 64- and 128-macrocell CPLDs. This family of 5V devices integrates additional clocking control terms and in-system programming (ISP), allowing designers faster development for decreased time-to-market and greater design flexibility. The CoolRunner devices are offered at a savings of up to 50 percent compared to the company's original 32-, 64- and 128-macrocell offerings, enabling designers to increase functionality required in today's designs and further reduce system cost.

Philips Semiconductors developed an improved macrocell configuration that yields more flexibility between asynchronous clocking and output enable control. The new CoolRunner 5V devices are also in-system programmable, giving designers the ability to reprogram after the device has already been placed on a PC board. The interconnect of Philips Semiconductors' eXtended Programmable Logic Array” (XPLA) architecture was specifically designed to secure enough logic for all macrocells so that design changes can always be made without changing pinouts.

The company is also introducing new design software, XPLA Professional, a comprehensive package that contains a complete environment for design creation, verification and implementation with complete design reporting capabilities. This new software adds Verilog design and schematic capture with mixed mode support to the existing utilities. In addition, Philips Semiconductors has developed a dynamic power estimator that works in conjunction with its full timing and functional simulator. XPLA Professional will have a suggested retail price of US$ 245 through Philips Semiconductors' distribution network, and will be provided free of charge to registered owners of Philips Semiconductors' current design tools.

"Although our focus remains the 3V market, there are many customers who will remain at a 5V power supply," said Dave Sroka, international product marketing manager, Philips Semiconductors Programmable Logic Business Line. "With these enhanced CoolRunner devices, designers have even more features at a substantially lower price. With XPLA Professional design software, they have a powerful design environment now and in the future, as they transition to 3V devices."

Philips Semiconductors' XPLA Enhanced family includes the company's patented Fast Zero Power (FZP) technology and XPLA. FZP delivers high-performance and low-power operation concurrently. Through its use of CMOS logic gates, FZP provides devices with propagation delays of 6 ns while ensuring the lowest power consumption. The XPLA architecture combines a PAL (programmable "and" logic) and a PLA (programmable "and /or" logic) to yield a flexible CPLD that consistently maintains fixed pinouts and offers complete deterministic timing.

The CoolRunner 32, 64 and 128 devices (part numbers: PZ3032CS-12, 5032CS-10, PZ5064CS-10, PZ5128CS-12, respectively) are priced at US$ 3.25, US$ 2.95, US$ 5.92, and US$ 9.82, respectively, all in volumes of 10,000 units supporting the commercial temperature range. Available in TQFP and PLCC packages, the devices are stocked and available on a worldwide basis through Philips Semiconductors' sales offices and extensive distribution network.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the ninth largest semiconductor supplier in the world and the third largest supplier of discretes in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.