Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HOWE BRADLEY STEVEN
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ALTERA CORP [ALTR] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr VP, Research & Development
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
101 INNOVATION DRIVE		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/07/2012
(Street)

SAN JOSE, CA 95134		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 33.31 (1) 05/07/2012   A   9,296     (2) 05/07/2022 Common Stock 9,296 $ 0 9,296 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 33.31 (1) 05/07/2012   A   13,944     (2) 05/07/2022 Common Stock 13,944 $ 0 23,240 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) (3) 05/07/2012   A   7,318     (4)   (4) Common Stock 7,318 $ 0 32,068 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) (3) 05/07/2012   A   10,978     (4)   (4) Common Stock 10,978 $ 0 43,046 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HOWE BRADLEY STEVEN
101 INNOVATION DRIVE
SAN JOSE, CA 95134		       Sr VP, Research & Development  

Signatures

 BRADLEY STEVEN HOWE   05/09/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an option shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
(2) Subject to the reporting person's continuing employment and the provisions in the Altera's standard form of stock option agreement, the options shall commence vesting on May 14, 2013 at a rate of 25% annually.
(3) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive at settlement one share of Altera common stock at no cost.
(4) Subject to the reporting person's continuing employment and the provisions in the Altera's standard form of RSU award agreement, the shares will commence vesting on May 14, 2013 at a rate of 25% annually. Shares will be delivered to the reporting person on such vest date.

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