Cypress Introduces the World's Highest Throughput Dual-Port Interconnects; New FullFlex(TM) Dual-Port Interconnects Deliver Speeds up to 250 MHz, 72-Bit Bus Width, DDR Capability, and Buffering up to 36Mb.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY) today introduced a family of the world's highest throughput dual-port interconnects. The new FullFlex(TM) devices offer a maximum throughput of 36 Gbps, 150 percent higher than the nearest competitor. They are the industry's first to be fabricated using 90-nm process technology and are ideal for applications with advanced processing needs, such as those in the wireless, image processing, instrumentation, and SAN/WAN markets.

A FullFlex interconnect can be used both as an interprocessor communications memory and as a single-processor companion memory. When used as a companion memory, the device provides 36 Gbps of dedicated memory bandwidth independent of the system read/write ratio. When used for interprocessor communication, the rich set of built-in features simplifies board design and allows for high-bandwidth data transfer between processing elements.

"Cypress's FullFlex family redefines the role of dual port interconnects by combining the speed and throughput of dual-port interconnects with the architectural flexibility and scalability of simple memories," said Sohin Chinoy, product marketing manager in Cypress's Data Communications Division. "The FullFlex family offers tangible value in system design by effortlessly handling data flow and allowing design energies to be redistributed to other areas of the project."

FullFlex devices operate at a maximum speed of 250 MHz, the industry's fastest. The family boasts the industry's only 72-bit bus width dual-port, offering easy interoperability with 64-bit processors, and also includes 36-bit and 18-bit devices. The new FullFlex products offer densities up to 36Mb, and are the only dual-port interconnects with Double Data Rate (DDR) capability, doubling system throughput while maintaining existing pin count.

"Cypress has a history of firsts in dual-port interconnects and is adding to that history by pioneering the use of 90-nm technology," said Dinesh Ramanathan, executive vice president, Data Communications Division. "The FullFlex family is the emblem of Cypress's continued commitment to the interconnect and buffer memory market and marks the first installment in a line of exciting upcoming products to further serve our customers."

The FullFlex family builds on the success of Cypress's past generations of FLEX Family dual-ports by providing a footprint-compatible migration path. This allows yesterday's system designs to take advantage of the breadth of today's feature set. The FullFlex dual-ports are developed on Cypress's 90-nm process, enabling lower costs and higher densities. The devices achieve high speed and throughput while simplifying designs by integrating numerous new features:

--Variable Impedance Matching -- Simplifies design and eliminates the need for multiple impedance matching resistors by automatically performing impedance adjustments on I/O drivers to counter-balance environmental changes.

--Deterministic Access Control -- Reduces processing delays and simplifies system trouble-shooting by providing controlled, deterministic feedback in cases of data collisions.

--Selectable I/O Standards -- Allows designers to seamlessly connect processors with different I/O signaling standards, supporting 3.3-V LVTTL, 2.5-V/1.8-V LVCMOS and 1.4-V to 1.9-V eHSTL per port.

--Echo Clocks -- Provides companion reference clock to outbound data, avoiding data capture delays caused by on-board parasitics and allowing more efficient operation.

--DDR Mode -- Doubles the system throughput for a given bus width or halves the bus width required to maintain a given throughput by allowing data to be clocked on both the rising and falling edges.

Availability and Pricing

FullFlex dual-port interconnects, with densities ranging from 36 Mbit to 0.5 Mbit, are currently sampling, with full production expected in April of 2006. FullFlex interconnects are available with a 72-bit bus width in a 484-pin PBGA package, and in 36-bit or 18-bit bus widths in a 256-pin FBGA package. They can be configured with a maximum throughput of 36, 18, 9, or 4 Gbps. Pricing for the 4Mb device starts at under $50 each in 10,000 unit quantities.

Photo

High-resolution photos of the FullFlex Family of interconnects can be downloaded at http://www.cypress.com/FullFlexPhoto.

About Cypress

Cypress solutions are at the heart of any system that is built to perform: consumer, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial, and solar power. Leveraging a strong commitment to customer service and performance-based process and manufacturing expertise, Cypress's product portfolio includes a broad selection of wired and wireless USB devices, CMOS image sensors, timing solutions, network search engines, specialty memories, high-bandwidth synchronous and micropower memory products, optical solutions, and reconfigurable mixed-signal arrays. Cypress stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CY. More information about the company is available online at www.cypress.com.

Cypress and the Cypress logo are registered trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. FullFlex is a trademark of Cypress. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.