Lattice Semiconductor has decided to stop investing in the high density, high performance end of the FPGA industry to concentrate on the low and mid-range segments, according to Sean Riley, Lattice’s general manager for high density solutions, speaking to the Globalpress Summit Conference in Santa Cruz earlier this week.
"We’re not investing in the ultra-high end which is addressed by Altera and Xilinx", said Riley, "we’re looking to the mid-range, the low density range and programmable mixed signal."
Examples Lattice gives of the mid-range are wireless interfaces, security and surveillance. Examples of low density applications are in handhelds, LCD displays, control and glue logic.
"We’re focused on programmable logic opportunities where we have sustainable and differentiated market positions", said Riley, adding "consumer is emerging as a good fit for PLD." Digital cameras are a major PLD application.
The advance credits it built up with Fujitsu, Lattice’s foundry, are down to $5.3m and will be exhausted in Q2.
Lattice grew its revenues 28% Q1 on Q1 to hit $70m, for profits of $11m in Q1 and is forecasting 6-10% growth in Q2. Q1 FPGA revenue grew 41% to $23.4m and Q1 PLD revenue was $47m. The company has $183.5m in cash.