Conexant Adds 2.5 Gbps Fiber-Optic Silicon Chips to Growing Family Of Semiconductor Solutions for High-Speed Fiber-Optic Network Equipment.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2000

Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) Monday released a family of semiconductor system solutions for 2.5 Gbps (OC-48) fiber-optic network equipment that supports synchronous optical network (SONET) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) digital data transmission standards.

The new products are Conexant's first for this market segment since acquiring Microcosm Communications, a leading developer of analog semiconductors for the fiber-optic market.

Conexant's new 2.5 Gbps solutions are aimed primarily at high-volume data communications traffic aggregation applications at the edge of today's optical networking infrastructure, and join Conexant's already broad and growing family for the core of this infrastructure. The new products include a 2.5 Gbps positive-intrinsic negative (PIN) preamplifier, a 2.5 Gbps limiting amplifier with a companion laser driver, and a 2.5 Gbps laser diode and laser modulator driver.

"These products form the foundation for what will be an extensive offering of products for this segment of the fiber-optic networking marketplace," said Alistair Blaxill, vice president of marketing for the portion of Conexant's fiber-optic networking group that was formed with the company's acquisition of Microcosm. "We also plan to add a family of parallel transmit and receive array products, as well as integrated mux/demux functions with integrated fixed and multi-rate clock-and-data-recovery devices."

Conexant's new 2.5 Gbps fiber-optic networking products include:

2.5 Gbps PIN Preamplifier:

Conexant's MC2012 integrated transimpedance amplifier uses a unique architecture developed from Microcosm's extensive range of PIN preamplifiers. The low-cost bipolar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (BiCMOS)-based solution can be used in die form with a low-capacitance photodiode. It reverse-biases the photodiode by approximately 2 volts to optimize performance, and is pin-compatible with all of the transimpedance amplifiers in the Microcosm portfolio. It has 2560 MHz minimum bandwidth supporting 2.5 Gbps data rates, and features at least -23 dBm sensitivity with 0dBm minimum overload using 0.9 A/W photodiode responsivity. It also provides superior performance with a minimum 23 dB dynamic range at 2.5 Gbps (10-10 BER), offers a wide -40 to +85 Degrees C operating temperature range, and operates with a single +3.3 volt supply.

2.5 Gbps Limiting Amplifier and Laser Driver:

Conexant's MC2067 next-generation programmable laser driver and MC2047 high-gain limiting amplifier are both designed for ultra high-speed telecommunications and advanced data communications applications. The highly-integrated MC2067 programmable laser driver features high-speed operations for SONET/SDH applications, uses differential positive emitter-coupled logic (PECL) data and clock inputs, and supplies bias and modulation current for driving an edge-emitting laser. It also uses an automatic laser power control that reduces power dissipation. The MC2047 limiting amplifier also addresses high-speed fiber optic communications market requirements, and offers a very wide range of operation and 5 mV input sensitivity at 2.5 Gbps. Normally integrated after the photo and transimpedance amplifier, the limiting amplifier provides all the necessary gain to ensure full PECL output swing even at minimum input sensitivity. An on-chip programmable signal-level detector permits designers to set thresholds at which the logic outputs are enabled.

2.5 Gbps Laser Diode and Laser Modulator Driver:

Conexant's CX60077 OC-48 laser diode and laser modulator driver provides an ideal solution for single-mode and dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) high-frequency fiber-optic applications. It can drive both laser diodes and external modulators, and is manufactured using Conexant's gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterojunction bipolar (HBT) process. Engineered for long-haul OC-48 fiber applications, it features built-in modulated and bias-current monitoring plus a high-isolation multiplexer for selected clocked or non-clocked data. The device has duty cycle output control, bias current range from 1 to 80mA, and has pulse current range of up to 80mA.

Pricing and Availability

Each of the new 2.5 Gbps products is in volume production, and products and evaluation boards are available through Conexant's domestic and international distribution network and direct sales channels. The MC2012 transimpedance amplifier is priced at less than $4 each in 1,000-piece quantities, and available in either a BCC++ package or in a bare die. The MC2067 programmable laser driver and MC2047 limiting amplifier are priced at $7 each in 1,000-piece quantities, and both BiCMOS devices are packaged in BCC++. The CX60077 laser diode and laser modulator drivers are priced at $59 in volumes of 50,000 and packaged in a 32-pin ceramic quad flat pack (CQFP).

About Conexant Systems

With revenues of approximately $1.5 billion, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor solutions for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications. These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks. The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging, and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Indices. For more information, visit Conexant at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements relating to future results of the company (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful implementation of the company's diversification strategy; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; timely completion of Year 2000 modifications by the company and its key suppliers and customers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.