Cypress Launches RF Business With Lowest-Phase-Noise PLL Family; Rollout Signifies Diversification Of Attack On Handsets, Other Wireless Markets.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2000

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:CY) today unveiled its Radio Frequency Phase Lock Loop (RF PLL) product family, featuring the industry's lowest phase noise floor, providing clearer voice and higher throughput for digital data transmission.

The CYW23xx product family, which supports frequency outputs ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 GHz, is targeted at communications systems such as broadband networks, RF base stations, wireless local loops, and cellular and cordless phone handsets. The roll out marks Cypress's intent to broaden its attack on wireless segments, particularly the handset market, where the company already has enjoyed substantial success with its ultra-low-power MoBL(TM) (More Battery Life(TM)) SRAMs, and its low-EMI Premis(TM) line of spread-spectrum frequency timing generators (SSFTGs).

"The demand for wireless convenience has driven the personal electronics revolution," said Dan McCranie, Cypress executive VP of sales and marketing. "Our RF family of devices will enable us to penetrate further into the market for cell phones and handsets, and to gain a beachhead in base stations, wireless infrastructure, and other wireless markets."

"All the signs point toward a wireless world with ubiquitous computing and multiple handheld devices," said Cypress President and CEO T.J. Rodgers. "There are three cell phones shipped for every PC. This RF chip is our third entry into that arena, along with our Premis clocks and ultra-low-power MoBL SRAMs. We aim to be the cell phone semiconductor vendor of choice."

The CYW23xx family consists of three single-PLL and six dual-PLL devices. The devices offer the industry's lowest-phase-noise-floor while maintaining footprint and register compatibility with LMX23xx series of National's PLLatinum(TM) PLLs. Low noise means higher data integrity -- important for voice applications but critical for data communications, where bit-error can corrupt the data flow.

In a recent comparison of the CYW2336 with National's LMX2336 RF PLL, the Cypress chip provided 3dB lower phase noise.

Currently manufactured in a 0.65-micron technology, Cypress aims to port the RF chips to its 3.3-volt, double-layer-metal, 0.25-micron BiCMOS process. The expectation is that BiCMOS will maximize RF's integration potential and bring an optimal mix of speed, power, and cost to wireless applications.

Cypress plans to leverage BiCMOS to create reusable analog/mixed-signal IP blocks, which would be used in RF and high-speed physical-layer devices. The new process is compatible with existing Cypress 0.25-micron SRAM technology, making it easier and more cost-effective for the company to mix and match IP in new products.

Cypress gained access to RF technology through last year's acquisition of IC Works, a supplier of timing technology solutions. IC Works was combined with Cypress's Timing Technology Division.

The CYW23xx family is available now in 20-pin TSSOPs in prices ranging from $2 to $3.50.

About Cypress

Cypress Semiconductor provides high-performance integrated circuit solutions "By Engineers. For Engineers.(TM)" for fast-growing companies in fast-growing markets, including data communications, telecommunications, computation, consumer products, and industrial-control. With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress's product lines 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 datacom/telecom 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 3,600 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose, California. 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). An electronic investor forum, and other investor information, is located at http://www.cypress.com/investor/index.html.

"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 the companies' Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks.

Note to Editors: PLLatinum is a trademark of National Semiconductor Corporation. MoBL, More Battery Life, and "By Engineers. For Engineers." are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.