Altera is an American manufacturer of programmable logic devices (PLDs), reconfigurable complex digital circuits, network communication devices, mixed-signal circuits, and embedded processors. The company is now a subsidiary of Intel Corporation.
Founded in 1984 in California
Introduced first PLD in 1984
Went public in 1988
Acquired by Intel Corporation in 2015
Xilinx is an American company that specializes in FPGA technology, which is similar to PLDs. It is the main competitor of Altera.
Lattice Semiconductor is another American company that specializes in programmable logic devices.
Microsemi is an American company that produces semiconductor and system solutions, including FPGA technology.
MAX series PLDs are low-power, high-performance programmable logic devices for a wide range of applications.
Cyclone series FPGA devices are low-power, low-cost, and ideal for high-volume, cost-sensitive applications.
Arria series FPGA devices offer a high-performance, power-optimized FPGA platform for a wide range of applications.
A PLD is an electronic component used to build digital circuits. It can be programmed to perform specific logic functions.
An FPGA is a type of PLD that can be programmed after manufacturing. It allows for flexible digital circuit design.
Cyclone FPGAs are low-cost and low-power, making them ideal for applications that require high-performance digital circuits at a low cost.
Altera serves a wide range of customers, from large corporations to individual engineers and hobbyists, who require programmable logic devices and other semiconductor solutions.
An FPGA is a programmable logic device that can be reconfigured after manufacturing. An ASIC is an application-specific integrated circuit that is custom-designed for a specific application and cannot be reconfigured.