Oki Semiconductor Announces uPLAT Integration Platform.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2000

World's First ARM-Based Integration Platform

Offering Embedded DRAM Enables Quick Implementation

of Communication Applications

Oki Semiconductor today becomes the first company to offer a true ARM-based System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution with the introduction of its uPLAT(TM) (&uot;Micro-plat&uot;) integration platform. uPLAT(TM), which offers an ARM processor and a pre-verified peripheral sub-system, can be combined with embedded DRAM core, to enable telecomm and datacomm equipment manufacturers to develop custom ICs in up to 50% percent less time than with conventional ASICs. With this announcement, Oki also becomes the first company to incorporate ARM's new higher-speed Advanced High Performance Bus (AHB) in its platform design.

Ideal for communication applications, including W-LANs, cable modems, xDSL, VoIP and Internet appliances, uPLAT(TM) contains an ARM processor, cache RAM, memory controller, and other standard functions on an integration platform. It is packaged with hardware and software design tools, prototyping aids and services to streamline the design effort. In addition, Oki has established a corporate wide IP infrastructure based on a multi-million dollar corporate partnership with Cadence Design Systems to extend uPLAT(TM)'s value to meet market demands.

The system-level integration (SLI) ICs opportunity is huge. Major ASIC vendors are looking for ways to simplify the SLI design cycle. As forecasted by market research firm Dataquest Inc., SLI designs -- either in ASIC or in application-specific standard product (ASSP) form

-- will grow world-wide from about $17 billion this year to $45 billion by 2003. Jordan Selburn, principal analyst of Dataquest's ASIC/SLI and Semiconductor IP service, predicted SLI will fuel the growth of the cell-based IC market as MPUs, DRAMs, and other intellectual property (IP) blocks are integrated on-chip.

&uot;As the industry progresses into the very deep-submicron era, the current re-usable IP core approach has not solved the requirement for faster time-to-market,&uot; said Shusaku Sumida, Vice President, Integration marketing, Oki Semiconductor. &uot;Offering an existing pre-designed logic sub-system and concurrent software debug and development tools, uPLAT(TM) radically streamlines the system design and development process. uPLAT(TM), the first in a family of integration platforms for the communications industry, highlights Oki's ability to deliver reliable, leading-edge telecomm and datacomm products that enhance our customer's technological leadership and provides a competitive edge in their markets.&uot;

The announcement of uPLAT(TM) demonstrates Oki Semiconductor's ongoing commitment to deliver advanced IC solutions to support the era of &uot;converged networks&uot; -- evolving digital network systems that transmit data, voice and video.

uPLAT(TM) Product Specifics

uPLAT is a framework for system development based upon a silicon logic platform and a hardware support platform. The silicon platform consists of a high-speed ARM7TDMI 32b RISC CPU core typically running at 110MHz, the AMBA-AHB bus interface, 8KB of unified cache, external memory controller, and functions for timer, interrupt controller, and serial I/O.

Oki will support software/middleware service routines that are ported to the platform, such as device drivers, power management software, interrupt manager, resource manager, debug monitor and real time operating systems (RTOS). The hardware support platform provides an ARM-compliant software development toolkit, including a complete emulation and debug environment using a hardware development system.

Additional features and benefits of uPLAT(TM) include:

--   Simple test interface -- Eliminates complicated internal platform
     verification process
--   Flexible external memory controller -- Supports ROM/flash,
     external or embedded SDRAM
--   8KB-unified cache -- Improves execution time for critical
     real-time code
--   0.25um 5LM-CMOS -- Low power, high performance process including
     embedded SDRAM
--   Power control -- Place in power down mode, is suitable for
     hand-held applications
--   Interrupt Controller -- Takes advantage of ARM and allows fast
     interrupts
--   Support for ARM's Advanced High-Speed bus or AMBA Peripheral bus
     for external IP plug-and-play
--   Extensive IP Core Library -- Oki will offers a large family of
     external AHB-compliant IP cores, including USB1.1, 10/100
     Ethernet IEEE802.3 MAC and PCI, IEEE1394, and Bluetooth
--   Prototype development system -- Enables concurrent software
     development with an on-board FPGA

Oki will continue to expand the uPLAT(TM) ASIC platform for further high-end performance application. The uPLAT(TM) roadmap includes ROM based and ARM9 based versions in a variety of Oki leading-edge process technologies.

Development Support System Pricing and Availability

Oki is currently accepting uPLAT(TM)-7C based ASIC designs.

--   uPLAT(TM)-7C test bench, chip model, and 7C core simulation model
     (HDL/VHDL) are available now.
--   uPLAT(TM)-7C evaluation chip in 420BGA will be available in April
     2000 for $100.00.
--   UPLAT(TM)-7C prototype evaluation board will be available in
     April 2000 for $3000.00.
--   ARM Development Interface Board is available now for $2000.00.
--   SDT2.5 Software Development Tool Kit is available now for
     $2000.00.

Oki's ASIC Products

Oki Semiconductor's family of very deep submicron (VDSM) ASICs meets the industry's need for high-performance, low-cost system-level solutions, fueling the transition to system-on-a-chip (SOC) designs. Oki's ASICs are developed using a innovative platform-based approach, whichenables higher levels of productivity, reduced cycle time and lower development risk through the sharing and re-use of intellectual property (IP) blocks. Oki's ASIC devices are ideal for a wide range of next-generation applications, including networking/wireless communications, multimedia and computer peripherals. The company offers Embedded DRAM, Sea of Gates (SOG), Customer Structured Array (CSA), and Cell Based product families in leading-edge Si-gate CMOS processes.

About Oki Semiconductor

Building on Oki's century-long commitment to communications technologies and markets, Oki Semiconductor designs and markets a broad line of advanced integrated circuits for telecommunications, network, automotive, computer, and consumer products. Oki's product lines include telecommunications, RF, laser, networking, speech synthesis, ASIC, microcontroller, and memory devices, offered in a variety of creative packages. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Oki Semiconductor is a division of Oki America Inc., which is a subsidiary of Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd. Oki has ISO-9000-certified manufacturing facilities in Japan and Thailand.

Information on Oki Semiconductor and its products is available through its Web site at http://www.okisemi.com.

Note to Editors: ARM7TDMI is the trade mark of ARM Inc. AMR POWERED is the registered logo of ARM Inc.