Infineon Introduces Automotive Electronics Sensors, Expands Industry-Leading Portfolio with MEMS Components for Emerging Safety Applications and Hall Sensor for Braking Systems.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Sensors Expo 2004

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2004

At the Sensors Conference & Expo, Infineon Technologies (FSE/NYSE:IFX) announced three new sensor products for automotive safety applications. The new sensor products expand Infineon's portfolio of solutions for these automotive safety segments: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), Rollover sensing, and Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS).

Market researchers at Strategy Analytics forecast that automotive safety applications for semiconductors will achieve a compound growth rate greater than ten percent through 2008, and grow to a market size of nearly $6.8 billion in that year. Infineon holds a strong market share position in many safety application segments. For example, by its own estimates, it is the number one supplier of Hall effect wheel speed sensors for ABS, pressure-based side airbag sensors, and sensor devices for the emerging TPMS segment. On average, every new car contains two Infineon sensors.

"In line with our strategy to further extend our leading position in the automotive segment, Infineon sees safety electronics as an important driver of growth and an area where the company's technical innovation and integration capabilities provide strong competitive advantage," said Christopher Cook, Vice President, Automotive & Industrial Business Unit, Infineon Technologies North America Corp. "With several decades of experience as a supplier to the automotive industry, Infineon has proven its ability to deliver the quality and reliability needed for critical safety systems."

Two of the new products are Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based on the technology of SensoNor, a leading provider of tire pressure and acceleration sensors that Infineon acquired in 2003. They are the SP30, a second-generation tire pressure sensing device with three sensing functions; and the SAR10 Rollover Sensor with an angular rate sensor. Both MEMS's integrate sensors and a custom chip in a compact package. The third new sensor is the TLE4941-1C, part of Infineon's third-generation Hall Effect sensor family optimized for ABS applications.

The SP30 family for TPMS applications combines a silicon micromachined pressure and acceleration sensor, temperature sensor, and a battery voltage monitor in a small-foot-print package that occupies 104.5 mm2. In production since 2003, the SP30 has now been enhanced to include mask programmability for configuration with customer specific software, providing system designers with flexibility to use the family across multiple systems and achieve system cost savings. Infineon believes the SP30 is the only TPMS product in production that integrates an accelerometer sensor in the single package, which contributes to a reduced part count in OEM-designed TPMS modules.

Infineon is also moving to gain a strong position in the emerging market for angular rate sensor-based rollover detection. The SAR10 Rollover Sensor contains a silicon micromachined angular rate sensor that detects when a vehicle is beginning to roll over and enables the firing of side airbags and pre-tensioning of seat belts. The side, or curtain air bag, is an increasingly popular passenger vehicle feature, driven by customer interest in enhanced safety for passengers and drivers in the event of an accident. The SAR-10 package, measuring just 120 mm2 , includes a custom chip that handles all analog signal processing and analog-to-digital conversion, allowing easy integration into modules as part of the overall vehicle safety system.

The third generation TLE4941-1C is a member of Infineon's successful ABS sensor product line. Based on shipment of previous generation products, Infineon estimates that its ABS sensors are used in one or more production vehicles now available from the major auto manufacturers of Europe, North America and Japan. Combining a Differential Hall Sensor and all signal conditioning on a single-chip, the TLE4941-C has enhanced Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) robustness, and is rated at up to 12 kV ESD. Its self-calibration capability acts at start-up and periodically during vehicle operation to adjust signal quality and ensure the highest accuracy readings at all times.

Extending Portfolio

The new sensors expand one of the industry's most extensive portfolios of ICs qualified for the rigorous and demanding environment and truly mission-critical operating requirements of vehicle electronics. Ranked worldwide as the number two supplier of ICs in this market, Infineon provides electronics OEMs with an extensive range of advanced microcontrollers, power devices, sensors, specialized communications bus, and wireless technologies.

Availability

All three of the new products are qualified for automotive system applications and available in sample quantities, with production availability subject to typical lead times.

Additional information on Infineon's sensor products is available at: http://www.infineon.com/products/sensors and at www.sensonor.no

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors, for applications in the wired communications markets, secure mobile solutions as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2003 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 6.15 billion with about 32,300 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.

This news release is available online at http://www.infineon.com/news/