PHOENIX, Feb 5, 2013 --  Avnet Memec, a division of  Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, a business region of  Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:  AVT), will host a new series of Microsemi SpeedWay Design Workshops™, featuring the new Microsemi SmartFusion2® SoC FPGAs. The workshop series kicks off Feb. 19 in San Jose, Calif., and Philadelphia, and will be held in 26 cities throughout North America.

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The SpeedWay event will provide an in-depth look at Microsemi's new SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA and how to harness its capabilities by using this new, compact development platform. Microsemi's SmartFusion2 Starter Kit gives designers access to industry standard interfaces including Ethernet, USB 2.0 OTG, SPI, I2C, and UART while including a comprehensive breadboard area to support unique design requirements. The kit comes preloaded with uClinux and can be booted in 0.5 seconds. Also included is a USB WiFi module that supports Ralink 5370 wireless radios, allowing uClinux to set up a wireless access point that serves DHCP WiFi connections. Users can then start an HTTPD server and access the SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA via a mobile Web browser from a smart phone or other wireless devices.

Taught by Avnet's technical experts, the workshops combine informative presentations with hands-on labs, from introductory to complex labs and demonstrations. The workshops will benefit engineers new to FPGA technology, those seeking to enhance proficiency with the ARM® Cortex™-M3 on-chip processor and integrated FPGA/M3, and those requiring security, reliability and/or low power in their applications.

Recommended prerequisites for the workshops are basic HDL design experience and familiarity with C programming, but are not required.

"SmartFusion2 SoC FPGAs are the only devices to address the necessary requirements for advanced security, high reliability and low power in critical industrial, military, aviation, communications and medical applications," said Kris Burgoon, vice president, Avnet Memec and Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Hosting this series of Microsemi SpeedWay Design Workshops enables Avnet Memec to offer engineers the informative tools they need to understand and gain expertise with these products – in a hands-on laboratory environment."

"Avnet Memec, and its team of factory-trained technical experts, is the ideal partner to facilitate these hands-on workshops on behalf of Microsemi," said Jorgen Makitalo, global distribution channel director, Microsemi. "These technical events will show design engineers how to use our design tools and leverage the advantages of our new SmartFusion2 SoC FPGAs in real-world designs."

The one-day workshops are $99 for attendees who each receive a SmartFusion2 Starter Kit worth $299. For more information and how to register, go to  www.em.avnet.com/sf2speedway.

About Microsemi 
Microsemi Corporation offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance, radiation-hardened and highly reliable analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,000 employees globally. Learn more at  http://www.microsemi.com/.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing 
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's website is located at  www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet, Inc. 
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, Avnet generated revenue of $25.7 billion. For more information, visit  www.avnet.com. 


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Avnet Electronics Marketing
Heidi Elliott, 480-643-7584
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
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