Analog Devices Announces New Flash-Based Blackfin Processors for Automotive Applications.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- VoiceBox Technologies and Volvo leverage Blackfin for sophisticated automotive designs requiring additional Flash memory storage

Meeting the stringent demands of the automotive market, Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI) today introduced the newest members of the Blackfin family, the ADSP-BF539 and ADSP-BF539F. The BF539F is the first Blackfin processor to be combined with flash memory in a single package; both new processors are developed specifically for the automotive market, providing CAN and MOST(R) bus connectivity. Additionally, ADI announced the availability of another family of Blackfin processors, the ADSP-BF538 and ADSP-BF538F with Flash, which are ideal for more broad-based industrial, medical and biometrics applications.

The ADSP-BF539F and ADSP-BF538F represent the first Blackfin devices to be combined together with Spansion(TM) Flash memory in a single package. Utilizing Known Good Die (KGD) Flash memory from Spansion (Nasdaq: SPSN), the world's largest pure-play provider of Flash memory solutions and a trusted supplier to the automotive market, the two new Blackfin devices are designed for memory-hungry convergent- processing applications that enable audio, video, conversation voice recognition and other functionality. Flash memory has emerged as a key component of these next-generation applications, freeing designers to develop increasingly sophisticated multi-function devices.

"Across our core markets, developers continue to attract customers with amazing applications they could only dream of a few years ago," said John Croteau, general manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. "By minimizing the need for external peripherals and memory, these new flash-enabled devices give engineers the tools they need to achieve faster time to market and drive costs down for these sophisticated designs. Industry innovators such as VoiceBox Technologies and Volvo are confirming the advantages."

Industry Leaders Leverage Blackfin

"Leveraging Blackfin with VoiceBox's conversational voice search platform, manufacturers of in-car entertainment solutions will be able to design applications that enable drivers to talk to and control products with free-form speech," said Tom Freeman, co-founder and senior vice president of marketing at VoiceBox Technologies. "In addition to the right performance, cost, power consumption, and real-time operating system support, Blackfin provided the peripherals necessary for the development of this hands-free capability. ADI understands the needs of the engineer, and its roadmap of products adds the right mix of peripherals for ongoing development."

Reinforcing Blackfin's leadership in automotive infotainment, Volvo has accredited the MXVR interface to support its MOST network. Processors with the MXVR interface like the ADSP-BF539F support Volvo's strategy of developing infotainment systems based on highly integrated solutions in order to reduce overall system cost.

Two Blackfin Families Combine Flash memory

Designed for use as host or system controllers in automotive applications, the new Blackfin ADSP-BF539F combines either 512 KB or 1 MB of Spansion Flash memory in a single package. Designed specifically for the automotive market, The ADSP-BF539 devices are 500 MHz with quality levels and are supported by the INTEGRITY(R) Real-Time Operating System from Green Hills Software. Each can execute a full range of real-time signal processing, vehicle network stacks, diagnostics code, and software download functions with ease. For additional information please visit http://www.analog.com/en/epProd/0,,ADSP-BF539F,00.html.

"Spansion customers want to leverage system-level solutions that can be deployed in their automotive designs without increasing cost or time-to-market," said Sylvia Summers, executive vice president of the Embedded Memory Division for Spansion. "As a trusted supplier to the automotive OEMs, Spansion is committed to meeting the long-term support and reliability needs unique to this market. These new small form factor devices deliver the added value that our automotive OEM customers require for their next-generation infotainment designs."

The Blackfin ADSP-BF538 and BF538F are highly integrated processors ideal for broader-markets such as industrial, medical and biometrics, delivering up to 500 MHz core performance. These Blackfin processors combine industry-standard interfaces, including CAN, SPORTs UARTS, SPI, TWI and GPIO, with a high-performance processor core and dual DMA controllers, enabling designers to develop cost-effective solutions quickly without the need for costly external components. The ADSP-BF538F incorporates additional 512 KB or 1 MB Flash memory which is also provided by Spansion. Pricing for the ADSP-BF538 starts at $13.75 per unit in 10,000-piece quantities. For additional information, please visit: http://www.analog.com/en/epProd/0,,ADSP-BF538F,00.html. For pricing on the ADSP-BF539 processors, please contact Analog Devices.

A Convergent Future Demands Blackfin-Class Processing

Analog Devices' Blackfin embodies a new breed of 16/32-bit embedded processor with the industry's highest performance and best power efficiency for applications where a convergence of capabilities -- multi-format audio, video, voice and image processing; multi-mode baseband and packet processing; and real-time security and control processing -- are critical. This powerful combination of software flexibility and scalability is enabling convergent applications such as digital home entertainment, networked and streaming media, automotive telematics and infotainment, and digital radio.

About Analog Devices

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest standing, highest growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating more than 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "ADI" and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

Blackfin is a registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. All other trademarks included herein are the property of their respective owners.