New Microcontroller Family from Infineon Technologies Helps Cut Fuel Consumption and Harmful Emissions from Combustion Engines.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

Infineon Technologies (FSE:IFX)(NYSE:IFX), a leading provider of automotive electronics, today announced the development roadmap for its next generation of microcontroller chips for engine and transmission control systems. The new microcontrollers, which act as the computing brains of intelligent control systems for diesel and gasoline engines, will allow future vehicle generations to satisfy the highest requirements in terms of performance and safety while at the same time optimizing fuel consumption and minimizing harmful emissions.

The new AUDO-NG family of 32-bit microcontrollers, specifically designed for use in the automotive sector, will enable a tenfold increase in computing power compared to today's solutions. They enable innovative engine management systems, permitting complex and sophisticated functions such as advanced direct injection or electromechanical valve train control. They also allow the development of novel concepts for transmission control systems and their interaction with the engine management system. The AUDO-NG family can be used across all vehicle categories, from cost-optimized volume models to the prestige performance class.

"By our estimates, Infineon has carved out a market share of more than 30 percent worldwide in the last several years in the sector specializing in microcontrollers for engine and transmission control systems," said Dr. Reinhard Ploss, chief executive officer of the Automotive & Industrial business group at Infineon Technologies. "With the AUDO-NG family we are once again demonstrating our innovation capability with chips for engine and transmission control systems, as well as our strengths in terms of system-on-a-chip design, quality and reliability."

Technical details of the AUDO-NG family

The AUDO-NG family is based on Infineon's TriCore(TM) Unified Processor architecture, which combines the strengths of a microcontroller, a microprocessor and a digital signal processor (DSP) in a single core. The new family will initially comprise three 32-bit microcontrollers; the TC1766 and the TC1796, both of which are based on the TriCore 1.3 architecture, and the TC2700, which uses the TriCore 2 architecture and will be capable of clock speeds up to 400 MHz.

By producing a family of AUDO-NG microcontrollers for different levels of performance, Infineon provides auto electronics manufacturers with the flexibility to choose the most suitable microcontroller for applications in all classes of automotive system, from the luxury vehicle class to cost-optimized volume models. The products are software-compatible and will support application designed for the earlier generation AUDO family, the TC1765 and TC1775.

The increased computing power of the AUDO-NG microcontrollers is a result of clock rates and enhancements in the chip architecture, including fast bus systems for on-chip communications and intelligent peripheral units. The extended peripheral set includes a MultiCAN module with up to four CAN (Controller Area Network) nodes and Time Triggered CAN (TTCAN) functionality, a fast analog-digital converter module operating at ten times the conversion speed of previous models, and an innovative high-speed serial interface. A multiprocessor interface common to all the AUDO-NG products is specifically geared to the requirements of powertrain applications. This interface enables a number of AUDO-NG microcontrollers to exchange data streams and is an essential prerequisite for the development of future drive systems with intelligence distributed over multiple processors.

The TC1766 is developed for use in cost-optimized engine and transmission control systems. It offers clock speeds in the 80 MHz range, 1.5 MByte embedded Flash, as well as a powerful peripheral set tailored to the requirements of standard powertrain applications.

The TC1796 operates at clock speeds up to 150 MHz and incorporates 2 MByte embedded Flash. Compared with the TC1766, it boasts an expanded peripheral set capable of meeting all the requirements of even the most complex engine management systems.

The TC2700 represents a dramatic clock speed and overall performance upgrade in microcontrollers for innovative drive system applications. Designed to deliver maximum computing power for complex algorithmic tasks, the TC2700 is based on TriCore 2.0 core architecture, which supports clock speeds up to 400 MHz. System designers are expected to use the TC2700 in parallel with a TC1796 or TC1766. The TC2700 exchanges information with the TC1766 or TC1796 in real-time via the multiprocessor interface.

The first member of the AUDO-NG family manufactured in 0.13um technology to make its debut will be the TC1796, which is scheduled to be available in sample quantities beginning of 2003. The TC1766 is scheduled for sample availability from the beginning of 2004 and the TC2700 will sample in 2005.

More information about the AUDO family of microcontroller for automotive applications can be found at www.infineon.com/audo

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for applications in the wired and wireless communications markets, for security systems and smartcards, for the automotive and industrial sectors, 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 the fiscal year 2001 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 5.67 billion with about 33,800 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 www.infineon.com/news

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