Microbridge Technologies Announces Innovative Low Cost Electrical Trimming Device -- The Rejustor.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Sensors Expo 2004

DETROIT, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2004

Unique Resistive Element Provides High Precision Tunability

for Electronic Circuits

Microbridge Technologies Inc., a privately held Montreal-based technology company announces here, today at Sensors Expo the availability of Rejustor(TM) devices -- the world's first electronically precision-adjustable, passive micro-resistor devices. These devices will help meet the challenges of ever-increasing, but affordable precision tuning of a wide variety of analog electronic circuits and systems, including sensor conditioning circuits.

Microbridge's Rejustor (electronically re-adjustable resistor) is a passive, VLSI- and MEMS-compatible adjustable micro-resistor. It is non-volatile (i.e. doesn't need power to hold its adjustment) and it is re-adjustable many times, bi-directionally, to very high precision (0.01%), using only electrical signals. Rejustors can be resistance matched to typically better than 50ppm and, in a world's first, can be Temperature Coefficient matched with other Rejustors to less than 2ppm/K, again using only electrical signals. All adjustments require only low voltages (2-6V) and power (5 to 15mW), hence battery power will suffice. Rejustors may be intentionally adjusted to a precise mismatch in TCR to help temperature compensate electronic circuitry and sensor elements.

The Rejustor technology is based on standard CMOS and BiCMOS chip technology, with simple post-processing to create suspended resistive micro-structures. Rejustor technology will be implemented in two ways: as discrete chip-resistors and application-specific networks and designed into analog or mixed-signal integrated circuits. The technology is fully scalable to foundry process geometries.

Being electrically trimmed, and with superior resolution, Rejustors may replace many thin and thick film resistors and provides the user with a higher performance at lower cost. Bidirectional adjustment provides additional design flexibility. Semiconductor devices may be trimmed after packaging processes, which often cause subtle changes in precision devices. Circuits and modules (particularly those used in sensing devices) may be trimmed and calibrated after final assembly with sensing elements or after system integration. Recalibration may be accomplished after years of operation.

The technology may obviate the need for EEPROM and circumvents some of the common problems of digital trimming, such as limited resolution (without purchasing expensive devices) and limited resistor values. Power is not required to hold resistor values and high voltages are not required for reprogramming. Users may no longer be concerned with data retention.

"With the Rejustor, for the first time circuit designers have at their disposal a low cost, electronically controlled, high precision, bi-directional adjustment capability for in-circuit automation of resistive trimming," says Mike Foster, CEO of Microbridge Technologies.

ASIC designers, for example, may no longer be forced toward digital trimming methods which necessitate that they design into a foundry process which includes EEPROM and its associated cost. This provides greater flexibility and optimizes the selection of foundry partners. Board designers may replace expensive mechanical trim potentiometers with discrete Rejustors and Rejustor Networks and replace costly labour with low cost automated adjustment and calibration. MEMS-based sensors may include calibration and thermal compensation Rejustors on the actual device, thereby saving the cost of external EEPROM-based digital calibration and temperature compensation schemes. For RF applications, Rejustors are particularly interesting as passive adjustable resistors with low capacitance and excellent high-frequency performance.

"We are very pleased to mark the introduction of these components to the world at Sensors Expo because sensor applications represent one of the large and immediate opportunities for companies to benefit from implementing Rejustor technology," says Nick Tasker, VP Business Development at Microbridge. "The combination of precision resistance adjustment and Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) matching, or controlled TCR mismatch, provided by the Rejustor takes sensors to the next stage of precision performance."

Price and Delivery

Rejustor devices are now available in sample quantities with the Rejustor Evaluation Kit. The kit, which sells for $2,500 includes a limited license to Microbridge's Rejust-it software and permits users to become familiar with the technology, to trim and test the devices in their own products and to begin the design-in process.

Production will commence in early 2005 and dual Rejustor devices will be available in volume (greater than 1M) at under $0.40, as packaged devices, chip-scale packaged devices and bare die. Integrated into analog semiconductor devices the cost per unit will be substantially less.

About Microbridge Technologies

Microbridge Technologies, Inc. is an early stage technology company specializing in micro-systems technology for electronics, micro-devices and sensor-based systems. Microbridge uses micro-thermal devices based on conventional silicon integrated circuit technology to create solutions in a variety of industries. The devices involve a micro-membrane with embedded micro-heater, suspended over a cavity in a silicon chip. These structures form the basis for a broad family of products in the form of electronically adjustable resistive micro-devices that provide an unprecedented combination of high precision, price, and ease of use. For further information please visit www.mbridgetech.com.