# Altera > semiconductor company **Wikidata**: [Q438294](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q438294) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altera) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/altera ## Summary Altera is an American semiconductor company founded in 1983, specializing in programmable logic devices and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). It was acquired by Intel in 2015 and is now part of Intel's Programmable Solutions Group, continuing to develop advanced FPGA technology for embedded systems and industrial applications. ## Key Facts - Founded in 1983 as a privately held company specializing in FPGA technology - Acquired by Intel in 2015, becoming part of Intel's Programmable Solutions Group - Headquarters located in San Jose, California, United States - Primary products include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded processors - Key FPGA series include the Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria families - Owned by Intel Corporation since 2015 - Operates as a subsidiary of Intel, maintaining its brand identity - Specializes in programmable logic devices for embedded systems and industrial applications - Notable embedded processor: Nios 16-bit soft-core processor for FPGA integration - Website: https://www.altera.com - Industry classification: semiconductor industry - Parent organization: Intel Corporation - Instance of: semiconductor company, privately held company - Headquarters: San Jose, California - Country of origin: United States - Sitelink count: 23 (Wikipedia links) ## FAQs **What type of company is Altera?** Altera is a semiconductor company specializing in programmable logic devices and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). It was acquired by Intel in 2015 and now operates as a subsidiary within Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. **What products does Altera manufacture?** Altera primarily manufactures field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded processors. Its key product lines include the Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria FPGA families, as well as the Nios embedded processor. **Where is Altera headquartered?** Altera's headquarters is located in San Jose, California, United States. The company maintains its operations in the United States and has a significant presence in the semiconductor industry. **Who owns Altera?** Altera is owned by Intel Corporation. The company was acquired by Intel in 2015 and operates as a subsidiary within Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. **What is the significance of Altera's FPGA technology?** Altera's FPGA technology revolutionized programmable logic by enabling customizable hardware solutions. Its FPGAs are widely used in embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications equipment, offering flexibility and performance advantages over fixed-function chips. ## Why It Matters Altera played a pivotal role in advancing programmable logic technology through its development of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). By enabling customizable hardware solutions, Altera's FPGAs addressed the limitations of fixed-function chips, providing engineers with the ability to reprogram hardware for specific tasks. This innovation democratized access to advanced semiconductor technology, fostering innovation in fields such as embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications. Altera's FPGAs also supported rapid prototyping and updates in the field, reducing hardware obsolescence and enabling specialized acceleration in data centers and embedded systems. The company's acquisition by Intel in 2015 further solidified its position in the semiconductor industry, integrating its FPGA technology into Intel's broader product portfolio. Altera's contributions to programmable logic have had a lasting impact on the electronics industry, shaping the development of modern computing systems and enabling new applications in various technological domains. ## Notable For - Pioneering field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology, enabling customizable hardware solutions - Developing the first commercially viable FPGA, the XC2064, in 1985 - Creating the Nios embedded processor, a 16-bit soft-core processor for FPGA integration - Producing the Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria FPGA families, which are widely used in embedded systems and industrial applications - Being acquired by Intel in 2015, integrating its FPGA technology into Intel's Programmable Solutions Group - Maintaining its brand identity as a subsidiary of Intel while continuing to develop advanced FPGA technology - Providing programmable logic devices for embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications equipment - Offering flexibility and performance advantages over fixed-function chips through its FPGA technology - Supporting rapid prototyping and updates in the field, reducing hardware obsolescence and enabling specialized acceleration - Fostering innovation in fields such as embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications through its FPGA technology ## Body ### Definition and Classification Altera is a semiconductor company specializing in programmable logic devices and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). It is classified as a semiconductor company and a privately held company. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in San Jose, California, United States. Altera is owned by Intel Corporation and operates as a subsidiary within Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. ### History and Founding Altera was founded in 1983 as a privately held company specializing in FPGA technology. The company was acquired by Intel in 2015, becoming part of Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. Altera's headquarters is located in San Jose, California, United States. The company has a significant presence in the semiconductor industry and specializes in programmable logic devices for embedded systems and industrial applications. ### Key Products and Innovations Altera primarily manufactures field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded processors. Its key product lines include the Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria FPGA families. The company is notable for developing the first commercially viable FPGA, the XC2064, in 1985. Altera also created the Nios embedded processor, a 16-bit soft-core processor for FPGA integration. These innovations have had a significant impact on the electronics industry, enabling customizable hardware solutions for various applications. ### Corporate Structure and Operations Altera operates as a subsidiary of Intel Corporation, maintaining its brand identity while integrating its FPGA technology into Intel's broader product portfolio. The company's headquarters is located in San Jose, California, United States. Altera's operations are focused on developing and manufacturing programmable logic devices for embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications equipment. The company has a significant presence in the semiconductor industry and continues to innovate in the field of FPGA technology. ### Market Position and Competition Altera competes with other semiconductor companies in the FPGA market, including AMD, Xilinx, and Microsemi. The company's FPGA technology offers flexibility and performance advantages over fixed-function chips, making it a preferred choice for embedded systems and industrial applications. Altera's acquisition by Intel in 2015 further solidified its position in the semiconductor industry, integrating its FPGA technology into Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. ### Research and Development Altera invests heavily in research and development, focusing on advancing FPGA technology and developing new applications for its programmable logic devices. The company's innovations include the Cyclone, Stratix, and Arria FPGA families, as well as the Nios embedded processor. Altera's research and development efforts have had a significant impact on the electronics industry, enabling customizable hardware solutions for various applications. ### Related Entities and Connections Altera is related to several other entities in the semiconductor industry, including Intel Corporation, AMD, Xilinx, and Microsemi. The company is owned by Intel Corporation and operates as a subsidiary within Intel's Programmable Solutions Group. Altera's headquarters is located in San Jose, California, United States, and the company has a significant presence in the semiconductor industry. The company's FPGA technology is widely used in embedded systems, industrial automation, and communications equipment, making it a key player in the programmable logic devices market. ## References 1. GRID Release 2017-01-10 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/) 5. [Source](https://figshare.com/articles/GRID_release_2015_12_14/2010108) 6. GRID Release 2016-12-06 7. Quora 8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions 9. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph 10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)