Cypress Announces ATE Support for Ultra37000 CPLDs; Combination of Device Programming and Board Testing Streamlines Manufacturing Flow.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 1999--

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:CY) today announced that it has complete programming support available on Genrad, Hewlett-Packard, and Teradyne automated test equipment (ATE) for its Ultra37000(TM) family of complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs).

Programming on an ATE platform saves valuable time in the production flow by combining device programming and board testing into a single step. ATE support benefits customers that program Cypress CPLDs in a high volume production environment by taking advantage of equipment already in place and speeding the manufacturing flow to allow faster time-to-market.

ATE support is based on the Jam file output from the Cypress In-System Reprogramming (ISR(TM)) software (Cypress will provide STAPL support next year). Cypress has worked with each ATE vendor to develop translator programs that convert the Cypress Jam file into the native language of each ATE platform. A Jam file contains both programming data and algorithms that are translated into the native language of each tester. This benefits customers by guaranteeing uninterrupted ATE support through device and programming algorithm changes.

"ISR is one of the key competitive advantages of the Ultra37000 family," said Norman Taffe, director of marketing for Cypress's Programmable Logic Division. "By aligning with the leading ATE vendors, we can provide our customers with the ability to test and program the devices in one step, saving time and money."

Cypress's Ultra37000 CPLD family consists of 14 devices, ranging from 32 to 512 macrocells. It offers a simple, fixed timing model that guarantees pin-to-pin propagation delays as fast as 5 ns for the 32-macrocell device, and 7.5 ns for the 256-macrocell device. Available in both 3.3-V and 5-V versions (the 3.3-V devices are 5-V tolerant), the family also offers Cypress's In-System Reprogrammability (ISR(TM)), which assures that logic changes won't affect pinouts or critical timing.

Availability

The Genrad and Hewlett-Packard translators can be obtained by contacting Cypress. The translator for Teradyne is included as an option with Teradyne ATE equipment. More information on obtaining the Teradyne translator option can be found by contacting Teradyne via their website at www.teradyne.com. In addition to these vendors, any ATE system that supports Jam file formats can be used to program Ultra37000 CPLDs. Customers can download the latest Cypress ISR Software for free from the company's website.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, provides a broad range of integrated circuits for leading computer, networking, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Cypress's products include static RAM and specialty memories, programmable logic devices (PLDs), data communications products, timing devices, and USB microcontrollers. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CY, and its web site is http://www.cypress.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements herein that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" involving risks and uncertainties. Please refer to Cypress's Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks.

Note to Editors: Ultra37000 is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp.