Altera's 28nm Variable-Precision DSP Block Architecture Wins 2011 Design Vision Award

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) announced today that its variable-precision DSP block architecture won the Semiconductor and IC category at the DesignCon 2011 DesignVision Award. Altera's variable-precision DSP block architecture was recognized by the DesignVision Award judges for its ability to support high-precision, high-performance digital signal processing functions on FPGAs that efficiently support many different precision levels. This unique architecture is implemented within Altera's 28-nm FPGA portfolio to enhance system performance, reduce power consumption, and lower architectural constraints for DSP algorithm designers. Altera received the 2011 DesignVision Award at a ceremony held at the Santa Clara Convention Center during DesignCon 2011.

Altera developed the industry's first variable-precision DSP block architecture to meet the industry's demand for higher precision signal processing capabilities. This innovative architecture allows each DSP block on the FPGA to be configured at compile time with three 9x9, two 18x18, one 27x27, or 18x36 multiplier modes. Additional higher precision modes can be provided by using multiple DSP blocks. This block-to-block based architecture supports various precisions on a block-by-block basis, ranging from low-resolution fixed-point video to single-precision floating-point within a single DSP block, and even supports double-precision floating-point with minimal external logic. More details on Altera's variable-precision DSP block architecture, as well as the architecture white paper or webcast, are available at www.altera.com/dsp-variable-precision .