Cypress Intelligent Serial Interface Engine Provides USB 2.0 Connectivity to Embedded Microcontrollers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2001

Compact, Low-Cost Device Combines Flexibility, High Performance;

Eases Development of USB 2.0 Scanners, Printers, Storage Devices

and Network Solutions

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY), the industry leader in USB 1.1 solutions, today expanded its USB 2.0 product line with the introduction of the EZ-USB(TM) SX2 intelligent serial interface engine (SIE). The EZ-USB SX2 provides a 480-Mbps USB 2.0 connection to a peripheral containing a microcontroller; it is the only low-cost solution that does not drain the controller's resources.

The EZ-USB SX2 integrates a USB 2.0 transceiver, a high-speed PLL, an intelligent SIE, a 4 Kbyte FIFO, and a very simple local bus interface. The integrated SIE takes care of USB housekeeping chores, so the microcontroller can spend its resources on the peripheral application. The `intelligent' SIE means that peripheral designers don't have to learn USB protocols to add this capability to their products, which speeds their time to market. This makes it easy to add high-speed USB to many peripheral applications including scanners, printers, networking devices, and digital video cameras.

"The EZ-USB SX2 provides speed, flexibility and low cost in peripherals that already contain a microcontroller," said Norman Taffe, Cypress's director of marketing for USB products. "Its USB endpoint buffers can be double-, triple- or quad-buffered so performance can be tailored to the application. It provides both 8- and 16-bit data paths, adding further design flexibility. The intelligent SIE means that peripheral designers don't have to learn USB protocols to add this capability to their products, which speeds their time to market. Its simple FIFO interface makes hardware design `easy' too. And all of this comes in an inexpensive 56-pin SSOP package."

Cypress is the No. 1 USB supplier, having shipped 83 million USB controllers, over half of all units currently in use. Following closely on the recent introduction of the EZ-USB FX2 integrated USB 2.0 peripheral device, the EZ-USB SX2 represents the second element of a broad portfolio of USB 2.0 products that Cypress is developing. With its USB 2.0 product family Cypress intends to continue its leadership role in USB.

Price and Availability

The EZ-USB SX2 is due to sample in Q1. It will be available in production quantities in Q3 priced at $5.29 in volumes of 10,000 units.

About Cypress

Cypress Semiconductor is "Driving the Communications Revolution"(TM) by providing high-performance integrated circuit solutions to fast-growing markets, including data communications, telecommunications, computation, consumer products, and industrial control. With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress's product portfolios include networking-optimized and micropower static RAMs; high-bandwidth multi-port and FIFO memories; high-density programmable logic devices; timing technology for PCs and other digital systems; and controllers for Universal Serial Bus (USB). Cypress is No. 1 in the USB and clock chip markets.

More than two-thirds of Cypress's sales come from fast-growing communications markets and dynamic companies such as Alcatel, Cisco, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, Nortel Networks and 3Com. Cypress's ability to mix and match its broad portfolio of intellectual property enables targeted, integrated solutions for high-speed systems that feed bandwidth-hungry Internet applications. Cypress aims to become the preferred silicon supplier for Internet switching systems and for every Internet data stream to pass through at least one Cypress IC.

Cypress employs more than 4,100 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CY. More information about Cypress is accessible electronically on the company's worldwide Web site at http://www.cypress.com or by CD-ROM (call 800/858-1810).

"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, including by not limited to: the effect of global economic conditions, shifts in supply and demand, market acceptance, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and capacity and supply constraints. Please refer to Cypress's Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks.

Note to Editors: "Driving the Communications Revolution" is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor. EZ-USB is a registered trademark of Cypress Semiconductor.