MicroTCA

Actel is enabling the MicroTCA market by providing Fusion-powered reference designs. The Actel Fusion Programmable System Chip (PSC) improves the design of MicroTCA power modules by dramatically reducing part count, board space, system cost, and power while increasing reliability, flexibility, and system availability. The Fusion device includes analog I/O, an analog-todigital converter, FPGA gates, large Flash memory, clocking, and other features that enable MicroTCA to reduce the part count of the Actel Power Module (PM) reference design by hundreds of parts over other FPGA- and MCUenabled power modules. The analog I/O, digital processing of analog signals, and Flash memory enable improved system monitoring and control so that system reliability and availability increases.

As an FPGA, Fusion is the most flexible solution on the market, with in-system reprogrammable microcode and FPGA logic gates. Finally, Fusion of MicroTCA improves performance with many functions coprocessed in FPGA gates alongside the Core8051 processor. Actel has reduced the part count required for MicroTCA power module designs in a unique reference design platform that includes hardware, software, and FPGA hardware description language (HDL)-a full solution.

Unlike component-driven ASSP designs, the Actel Fusion FPGA enables integration of multiple functions, MicroTCA include voltage and temperature monitoring, a large Flash memory for event logging, and nonvolatile FPGA fabric for nearly instantaneous hot-swap and power switchover. All of MicroTCA functionality is delivered today with an Actel Fusion chipset while reducing your bill-ofmaterials cost over ASSP-based power module systems.