Credence Receives Order for Duo Test System From Silicon Image.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999--

Credence Systems Corporation (Nasdaq:CMOS), a leading manufacturer of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the worldwide semiconductor industry, today announced that it has received an order for a Duo test system from Silicon Image, Inc. Silicon Image, the leading supplier of high speed, low cost all-digital video graphics technology, will use the tool to test its high-speed graphic interface devices. The Duo system, featuring Credence's full complement of industry leading analog instruments, was installed at Silicon Image's Cupertino, Calif. facility in August.

"Silicon Image has distinguished itself as a leader in the extremely competitive PC market, supplying chips to the largest manufacturers in the industry. With the help of Credence's systems we have been able to implement an extremely economical solution to test high-speed graphic interface devices," commented Jalil Shaikh, Silicon Image's vice president of operations. "The Duo provides the versatility Silicon Image requires and the most cost-effective solution for testing our PanelLink(R) product suite of Digital Visual Controller(TM) chips."

The Duo Series test system is capable of testing up to 512 I/O channels, supporting either standard single socket tests or pin mapped multisite testing. A highly integrated, compact test system, the Duo reduces power consumption, floor space and overall cost-of-ownership expenses, enabling manufacturers and assemblers to achieve high-volume, reliable testing in a cost-effective process.

"Credence has partnered with Silicon Image over the last four years offering test solutions and technical expertise in a consulting capacity. This recent order further strengthens Credence's relationship with Silicon Image," said Dave Ranhoff, executive vice president of Credence.

Through Credence's leasing arm - Credence Capital Corp. - Silicon Image is leasing the Duo test system. Credence Capital Corporation is a focused financial engineering firm that utilizes classic financial tools in unique ways to bring Credence, its customers, and lenders together synergistically, thus enabling and optimizing availability, utility, and productivity of both current and future generations of Credence test equipment.

With an installed base that includes customers in the United States, Europe and Asia, Credence maintains the largest installed base of ATE in subcontract test facilities around the world.

About PanelLink Digital Visual Controllers

The PanelLink Digital Visual Controller family combines PanelLink Digital Interface technology, the new PixelPrecision image processing technology which is being introduced today, and display adapter technology which enables easy linking to any type of display.

PixelPrecision image processing technology is a new, innovative all-digital solution in image processing. Because traditional solutions are fundamentally analog image processing solutions, they are forced to compromise either image quality or cost. With PixelPrecision, for the first time, consumers are offered a "no-compromise" solution.

About Silicon Image

Silicon Image is the industry leader in high-speed, low-cost all-digital video graphics display technology. The company's PanelLink technology implements the industry's only standard, open, scaleable, end-to-end, serial, all-digital physical connectivity between computers, controllers, or other sources of video and digital video display devices such as flat-panel monitors. The PanelLink protocol has been adopted by the Digital Display Working Group as the newly adopted Digital Visual Interface (DVI) specification, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) for its "Plug and Display" standard and is the underlying technology of the Digital Flat-Panel (DFP) standard. Silicon Image designs and markets families of low-cost ICs for use by both computer/controller manufacturers and manufacturers of flat-panel displays. Customers include IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hitachi, NEC, ATI, Artpix, Matrox, Diamond, Gainward, STB, Elsa, I/O Data, Melco, Promixa, Sanyo, Spectrah, Viewsonic, Mag Innovision, Princeton Graphics, LG Electronics, Samsung, Siemens-Nixdorf, and Toshiba. Based in Cupertino, Calif., Silicon Image is privately held. The company's web address is http://www.siimage.com.

About Credence

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, California, the company maintains advanced production and design facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon. 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.

Credence, Credence Systems, Duo, and Duo Series are trademarks of Credence Systems Corporation. Other trademarks that may be mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.