Actel has introduced flash-based FPGAs for space flight applications. The RT ProASIC3 family has passed the testing required for MIL-STD-883 Class B qualification. The device provides designers of spaceflight systems with reprogrammability for prototyping and design validation and offers critical immunity to radiation induced configuration upsets. The devices are based on the ProASIC3 flash architecture and are offered in two sizes. The 600,000 gate RT3PE600L and the three million gate RT3PE3000L are both offered in ceramic column grid array, ceramic land grid array, and ceramic quad flat-pack packages. The devices can operate at a core voltage variable between 1.2V for low-power applications and 1.5V for performance-driven designs. The devices use flash cells to store configuration information, presenting opportunities and advantages to designers of spaceflight electronic hardware, which include reprogrammable flash cells and non volatile flash cells. Reprogrammable flash cells allow the designer to change the design of the FPGA without removing it from the board, making prototyping easier. The flash cells also enable in-flight reprogrammability, extending mission life by re-purposing the hardware to incorporate updated algorithms. Non-volatile flash cells are flash-based FPGAs that function as standalone devices enabling code storage on-chip, removing the need for an external configuration device.
