Altera has expanded the MAX II device family with a specific eye on wireless handset designs. With analysts estimating the market for portable consumer devices being over $15bn this year, the programmable logic firm has introduced small packages and power-down capabilities to address this market.

“Designers of portable or battery-powered applications face many of the same challenges that have fuelled the programmable industry for the last twenty years, namely shortened schedules, feature uncertainty caused by changing industry standards and cost pressures,” said Luanne Schirrmeister, Altera’s director of product marketing.

The MAX II EPM240, EPM570 and EPM1270 devices are available in 100-pin and 256-pin 0.5-mm Micro FineLine BGA (MBGA) packages and 100-pin 1.0mm FineLine BGA (FBGA) package.

According to the supplier the MBGA packages mean that designers can integrate 50 per cent more user I/O and logic elements than they are traditionally able to.

The devices also have a power-down capability that conserves battery life. Unlike competing CPLDs, the power characteristics of MAX II devices enable them to power down to eliminate current draw entirely. To learn more about power savings using MAX II CPLDs, visit www.altera.com/max2-lowpower  and www.altera.com/support/examples/max/exm-power-down.html

Read more in the “Reduce Total System Cost in Portable Applications Using MAX II CPLDs” white paper, at www.altera.com/literature/wp/wp-01001.pdf.