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Avnet Offers New SmartFusion2 KickStart Development Kit for Applications Requiring Highest Levels of Design and Data Security
[September 17, 2015]

Avnet Offers New SmartFusion2 KickStart Development Kit for Applications Requiring Highest Levels of Design and Data Security


Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a leading global technology distributor, and Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today introduced the new SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit. The versatile prototyping solution designed by Avnet offers engineers in communications, medical, automotive, video, smart energy and industrial markets the much-needed low power, high security and reliability required for today's Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices in a low-cost development and demonstration platform. The SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit is priced at $59.95.

Avnet's SmartFusion2 KickStart board features the low power, single event upset (SEU)-immune Microsemi M2S010S SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA, a secure and integrated programmable system-on-a-chip device with 10k logic elements and a 166 MHz ARM (News - Alert)® Cortex®-M3 processor. Unlike existing SmartFusion2 development boards, Avnet's KickStart Board does not require a separate JTAG emulator or power supply, as this is now integrated onto the USB-powered board. For communications, Microchip Technology's RN4020 Bluetooth® Low Energy Module is provided in addition to USB serial. Two tiny, low power onboard sensors also allow engineers access to ambient light, a gyrometer, accelerometer and a temperature sensor. The Arduino and Pmod-compatible interfaces provide for the easy addition of existing custom modules to implement applications such as bridging, acceleration and I/O expansion. An easy-to-use Windows-based GUI and an Android (News - Alert) app are available to demonstrate the full functionality of the SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit.

"New technologies may come and go, but a constant for design engineers is the demand to get differentiated products to market on time and on budget. We created the SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit as an entry level development platform to facilitate rapid prototyping of low power IoT implementations using Microsemi's (News - Alert) SmartFusion2 SoC FPGAs," said Stefan Rousseau, senior technical marketing engineer, Avnet Electronics Marketing. "This Avnet-designed board is a lower cost alternative to current solutions on the market, and is great for applications that require the highest levels of design and data security. By minimizing both the complexity and price of this solution, we hope to inspire a whole new generation of reliable and innovative IoT and M2M-enabled devices and applications."

"Microsemi is excited to collaborate with Avnet on such a compelling SoC FPGA evaluation kit. The Avnet KickStart Kit will enable the broad customer base to easily see the value that SmartFusion2 can bring to their design," said Ted Marena, director of product marketing, Microsemi. "At a time when security is constantly in the public eye, the unique features of SmartFusion2 offer the high level of security needed to protect data and valuable application IP, which are essential in today's demanding market."

The SmartFusion2 KickStart board features:

  • SmartFusion2 M2S010S SoC FPGA with embedded security
  • Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE) interface and an Android app
  • USB serial with Windows-based GUI
  • Arduino-compatible interface
  • Three 12-pin PMOD-compatible connectors (supply voltages can be set to 3.3V or 2.5V)
  • On-board 6DoF motion plus temperature sensor and MAX44009 ambient light sensor
  • USB power and JTAG
  • Two user push-button switches
  • Four dual-filament user LEDs (red, green or yellow)



The SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit comes with an Avnet reference design that provides examples of how to use device features and interfaces, and includes a number of easy-to-follow demonstrations. To see videos of the kit, click here. To purchase the kit, visit www.em.avnet.com/SmartFusion2-KickStart.

Avnet will also be conducting a number of Speedway Seminars based on the SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit. To see the locations and dates, click here.


Click to Tweet: @AvnetDesignWire offers affordable alternative for prototyping low power IoT implementations using SmartFusion2 FPGAs http://bit.ly/1ll33LR

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About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world's standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,600 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to the new SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC (News - Alert). Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

About Avnet, Inc.

From components to cloud and design to disposal, Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) accelerates the success of customers who build, sell and use technology globally by providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, services and solutions. Avnet is a Fortune 500 company with revenues of $27.9 billion for the fiscal year 2015. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.


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