Credence Expands Its Mixed-Signal Test Marketshare; Delivers 200th Duo System to LSI Logic.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1998--

Milestone Installation Reflects Duo's Role as the Industry Standard for Digital Mixed-Signal Test

Credence Systems Corp. (NASDAQ:CMOS), an international leader in the manufacture of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the semiconductor industry, announced the milestone shipment of its 200th Duo Series test system to LSI Logic's Gresham facility.

A Credence customer for over ten years, LSI Logic will use the newly purchased Duo for high volume production testing of mixed-signal ASIC and consumer IC's.

"Customer acceptance defines the success of our products," said David Ranhoff, Credence's executive vice president. "Delivering our 200th test system in such an incredibly short time-frame validates the success of the Duo platform.

"We would like to thank LSI Logic and all of our customers for establishing the Duo as the preeminent technical and business solution for digital mixed-signal testing."

Credence's Duo Series, which debuted just two years ago, was the first test system to provide manufacturers with the ability to test digital mixed-signal (DMS) integrated circuits (ICs) on a single platform and rapidly became the industry standard for DMS testing.

"At LSI Logic we've been able to fully leverage the Duo's superior integration of high performance digital pins and DSP based analog instrumentation," said Don Esses, LSI Logic's vice president of manufacturing. "With today's shrinking time-to-market cycles, Credence testers have provided us with a competitive advantage."

Continually enhancing the functionality of the Duo platform, Credence has consistently introduced new instruments and system improvements. Originally designed with 32 to 448 digital input/output (I/O) channels, the Duo family of testers was expanded to include the Duo SE, a 50 MHz tester and the Duo SX, a 200 MHz version. There are also a number of instrumentation options for the Duo family, allowing customers to match each system with their own level of functionality requirements.

Last November at the International Test Conference, Credence unveiled the Duo RF featuring an innovative Radio Frequency Subsystem (RFS). The Duo RF provides cost-effective, single-insertion testing of new mobile communications devices, including digital cellular, PCS, digital cordless, GPS, RFID and wireless LAN.

"Shipping the 200th Duo firmly entrenches Credence's position as the value standard in mixed-signal testing," commented G. Dan Hutcheson, president of VLSI Research Inc. "The new RF testing capabilities should alleviate the limitations of present day ATE in testing advanced mobile communication devices. The Duo RF could become the wireless tester of choice."

With the introduction of the Duo, Credence enhanced its position in the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) business through enabling customers to achieve volume testing while minimizing their cost of test.

Current multimedia devices contain audio, video and high-speed bus interfaces which provide users with virtually instantaneous interactions. Manufacturers combine multiple device cores on a single chip, resulting in more powerful performance, lower system costs and accelerated time to market.

Credence's Duo systems actually changed the way manufacturers test advanced ICs by offering the first system capable of high-volume testing of both digital and digital mixed-signal devices.

Credence Systems Corporation is a leader in the manufacture of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the global semiconductor industry. Credence offers a wide range of products with test capabilities for digital, mixed-signal, and memory semiconductors. Utilizing its patented CMOS technologies, Credence products are designed to meet the strict time-to-market and cost of ownership requirements of its customers.

Headquartered in Fremont, the company maintains advanced production and design facilities in Beaverton, Ore. Credence, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CMOS. More information is available at www.credence.com.

Note to Editors: Credence, Credence Systems, Duo, Duo SX, Duo SE and Duo RF are trademarks of Credence Systems Corporation. Other trademarks that may be mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

    CONTACT: Credence Systems Corp.
              Connie Graybeal, 510/623-4774
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              The Loomis Group
              Bruce Bedortha, 415/882-9494
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