Altium collaborates with Altera to release online component resources and software support

CARLSBAD, USA: Altium, developer of next-generation electronics design software and services, announced new devices and updates to the board-level components from Altera's Stratix IV FPGA and MAX V CPLD device families available in its online content delivery ecosystem, AltiumLive.

The release coincides with the inclusion of Altera Stratix IV FPGA and MAX V CPLD device support in the latest update for Altium Designer 10, Altium's unified electronics design system.

Developed in collaboration with Altera, the updated collection of FPGA and CPLD components add to the extensive range of Altera design content already available through AltiumLive. The new components are available through the AltiumLive portal from within Altium Designer, providing designers with access to current, high quality board-level components during the design process.

Altium Designer includes comprehensive software support for the newly updated Altera devices, allowing their full integration into the programmable device design part of the electronics design flow. This provides the unique design conditions for working with a specific programmable device, such as pin configurations and I/O type, live communication protocols, synthesis and PCB pin swapping data, making the Altera devices ready for easy, rapid deployment in Altium Designer projects.

The collaborative relationship between Altera and Altium is another significant step in the expansion of Altium's partnership program, which aims to forge collaborative relationships with a broad group of electronic component manufacturers and distributors.

The strategic partnerships ultimately allow Altium to deliver quality online content and services directly to Altium Designer users. Along with device manufacturers such as Altera, Altium has also established relationships with parts suppliers and vendors such as Farnell, Digi-Key and Newark. This allows board-level components to include real-time supply-chain information, such as vendor choice, pricing and availability.

"Collaboration between Altium and parts manufacturers helps us produce high-integrity design IP for our customers," said Rowland Washington, content development manager for Altium. "We are pleased to be working with Altera to develop an ever-increasing range of third party libraries, templates, reference designs and other ready-to-use design content."

This latest update to the Altera board-level component content available through AltiumLive includes a full update of the Stratix IV high-performance FPGA family and the addition of the MAX V low power CPLD range – Altium Designer 10 now provides design software support for these devices. The update adds to the already substantial collection of Altera programmable devices available from AltiumLive's board-level component vault, which includes Altera's broad portfolio of high-end, low-cost and mid-range FPGA families and CPLDs, including Stratix FPGAs, Cyclone FPGAs, Arria FPGAs, and MAX CPLDs.

"Working with Altium to deliver online design content will bring high quality Altera component models directly to the desktop of designers using Altium Designer," said Patrick Dorsey, senior director of component product marketing at Altera Corporation. "This makes it faster and easier for customers to use Altera devices in their designs using up-to-date, quality design resources."

The new and existing Altera components are available online through AltiumLive's board-level component vault, one of Altium's managed component repositories of ready-to-use design elements accessible through the AltiumLive portal. Designers can directly access the components and linked supplier information from within Altium
Designer when using a subscription-enabled license, or by browsing to the AltiumLive Content Store via the web. Designers installing the latest update for Altium Designer 10 will have access to complete design-time software support for the new Altera devices.