Cypress Ships 200 MHz RoboClock II Programmable Skew Clock Buffer.

Business/Technology Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2001

Cypress Cuts Skew and Propagation Delay of RoboClock II in Half,

Targets Networking, Telecommunications and Storage Applications

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY) today announced that its RoboClock(R) II programmable skew clock buffer is now available in a version with an operating speed of 200 MHz. The new RoboClock II device provides the programmability that characterizes the RoboClock family of devices. It delivers to designers of networking, telecommunications, computation and storage networking applications a higher-speed timing solution with tighter skew and propagation delay specifications.

"The growing demand for high-performance network systems requires clocking solutions that meet more stringent performance specifications," said Mike Bollesen, senior product marketing manager for communications products. "The 200 MHz version broadens Cypress's portfolio of timing technology solutions, improving on the speed, skew and propagation delay specifications of the industry-leading RoboClock II family of devices."

The new CY7B944-2 and CY7B933-2 greatly improve many of the specificiations of the original CY7B994-5 and CY7B993-5. For example, the new devices cut the specifications for skew and propagation delay across the device from 550ps to 250ps. They are available in 100-pin TQFP and 100-ball BGA.

The RoboClock II family offers programmable skew, low propagation delay, 50-50 duty cycle, and spread-spectrum signal distribution. The RoboClock II devices offer users multiply and divide functions of 1 through 6, 8, 10, and 12 and a total of 18 outputs.

The RoboClock II family offers features never before found in a programmable skew clock buffer. User-selectable redundant reference clocks provide fault tolerance. Each reference clock input accommodates differential PECL, differential LVTTL, or single-ended LVTTL signals. The "hot-swap" capability of the reference clock inputs allows users to plug in a new board without powering down their systems. Cypress tests and guarantees all key skew specifications - including pin-to-pin skew, propagation delay, and rise and fall time - to ensure reliability.

Price and Availability

Production volumes of the 200MHz versions - the CY7B994-2 and CY7B994-5 - are available now. The CY7B994-5AC in the TQFP is priced at $18.90 in volumes of 10,000.

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 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). 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, 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 1-800-858-1810). 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, including but 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.

"Driving the Communications Revolution" is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor. RoboClock is a registered trademark of Cypress Semiconductor.