APEX Redundancy: The Altera Advantage
Altera APEX devices offer engineers state-of-the-art, multi-million-gate devices. The built-in redundant circuitry in APEX devices is one of the key features that has allowed Altera to manufacture these new high-density devices on cutting-edge technology and immediately supply them in production quantities.
Redundant circuits can be thought of as spare functional blocks on a device. Figure 1 shows how the continuous interconnect structure of the APEX architecture supports redundancy. If a defect is found on a die, the die can be mended: a spare functional block can be used in place of the defective block. This substitution does not affect the device's functionality or timing.
Figure 1. APEX Redundant Circuitry
Altera Ensures Immediate Production Supplies
Altera is the only programmable logic company to offer redundant circuitry, although a similar type of redundancy is used in the production of memory semiconductors. Without redundant circuitry, a single defect can make a die unusable. An Altera die with redundant circuitry, on the other hand, can be repaired and returned to production, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Redundancy Ensures Product Availability
Altera is able to maintain the Altera Advantage by ensuring that production quantities of new APEX devices are readily available so that your SOPC designs can move immediately into production.
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