Cypress PLD University Program Expands Dramatically Year-On-Year.

Business Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2001

Increase in Educational Partnerships Makes Cypress

Programmable Logic Tools and Devices the Software, Silicon Solutions

of Choice in Digital Design Courses Around the Globe

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY) today announced that an increase in the activities of the company's Programmable Logic University Program has made its complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) -- and the Warp(R) software used to program them -- the solutions of choice for digital design instructors around the world. Participation in the program by university professors grew by more than 25% this year, with nearly three-quarters of this growth coming outside the U.S.

The university program offers software, hardware, learning materials, and technical support free of charge or at significantly reduced prices. Qualified universities receive the full industry version of Cypress's Warp software -- a complete VHDL/Verilog design environment with design entry, synthesis, and simulation capabilities -- free for use in their classrooms and laboratories. Qualified universities also receive Cypress's desktop programming boards and JTAG cables for free.

Warp software has helped Cypress to become the No. 1 supplier of VHDL and Verilog-based PLD software, with more than 27,000 seats installed. Like previous versions of the Warp product, Warp's newest software release continues to provide a value-driven $99 edition, along with two editions, Warp Professional and Enterprise products, that provide additional design functionality.

"Since 1995, the Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Cachan has used Cypress Warp software extensively as a synthesis tool because of its simplicity of use, the wide range of PLD families it handles, and its good conformance with the VHDL standard," said Jacques Weber, a professor at the Paris-based university.

"Ease of use is quickly making Cypress the standard platform for university engineering labs," said Nicolas Gonze, Cypress's European Product Marketing Manager. "Last year, many European universities selected Cypress's CPLDs and development tools to educate their future electronic engineering graduates.

"The program exposes students to design-intensive products and tools and teaches practical skills, so they can make an immediate impact in the workplace upon graduation," Gonze said. "Because today's students are tomorrow's customers, the University Program is a win-win for both Cypress and its partners."

Under the program, professors can also receive a sample copy of the textbook VHDL for Programmable Logic with their Warp kits. In addition to Warp kits and hardware, universities have access to samples of programmable devices including Ultra37000(TM), Delta39K(TM), and Programmable Serial Interface(TM) (PSI(TM)) as well as a wide array of other Cypress products.

More information about Cypress's Programmable Logic University Program can be found at http://www.cypress.com/pld/university/index.html.

About Warp

Warp software is the No. 1 VHDL and Verilog-based PLD software tool, with over 27,000 installed seats. Introduced in 1991, Warp pioneered the use of HDL for programmable logic design. Its design tools accept design entries using VHDL IEEE Standard 1076/1164 or Verilog IEEE Standard 1364, providing users with the option to seamlessly integrate Warp software with all major third-party EDA environments. Warp software provides the capabilities of tools costing much more, enabling designers to capitalize on the performance and speed-to-market advantages of programmable logic with a minimal software investment.

About Cypress

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY) 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 high-speed data communications ICs; networking-optimized and micropower static RAMs; high-bandwidth multi-port and FIFO memories; high-density programmable logic devices; timing technology solutions; and controllers for Universal Serial Bus (USB).

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 4,500 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose, Calif. 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.

"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: Delta 39K and "Driving the Communications Revolution" are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor. Warp is a registered trademark of Cypress Semiconductor.