Philips Semiconductors Launches Its First 1.8V High-speed, Low-voltage Logic Family, Ideal for Single-cell Battery Operated Portable Devices.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2001

AUC Offers the Fastest Logic Solution for Low-voltage Applications in Computing, Networking and Telecommunications

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI), today announced one of the world's fastest low-voltage logic families for portable consumer electronics, computing, networking and telecom applications. The Advanced Ultra-low Voltage CMOS (AUC) is a new family of logic products optimized for 1.8V operations, with an operating voltage range of 0.8V to 3.6V. This is the only logic family that can be operated by a single-cell battery at 1.5V, according to Insight-Onsight's logic family market analysis, making AUC an ideal choice for mobile phones, pagers, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and other portable devices.

Philips Semiconductors developed the specifications for the AUC logic family in collaboration with Texas Instruments (TI). Philips Semiconductors and TI have alternate source agreements in place to support AUC. Philips Semiconductors will offer AUC products in single/dual/triple gates, octals and multiple-byte functions. The initial functions to be released are housed in the PicoGate (SC70-5) package. In addition, Philips Semiconductors will make available a wide array of other package options as the market demand arises.

"Portable and wireless equipment always demands lower power and higher speed," said Will Booth, an analyst at Insight Onsite -- a market research firm specializing in the logic market. "One way to reduce power is to reduce power supply voltages. The logic industry has been migrating from 5V to 3.3V to 2.5V, and is now ready to reduce to 1.8V systems. With the introduction of AUC, Philips Semiconductors has reaffirmed its position at the forefront of innovation in logic."

"Philips Semiconductors is committed to developing next-generation logic technologies, such as AUC, and supporting the continued growth of the logic market," said Bruce Potvin, director of marketing, business line Logic, Philips Semiconductors. "With our strong manufacturing, test and assembly capabilities around the world, we are dedicated to supplying products to customers under any market condition."

The AUC logic family is designed to offer a faster, ultra-low-noise logic solution for applications with low-voltage requirements. Developed with the smaller geometry technology used for Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), high-speed digital signal processors (DSPs) and microprocessors, AUC is the first logic family capable of interfacing directly with the low-voltage versions of these processors. Finally, with a voltage tolerance of 3.6V, AUC can support the use of higher-voltage devices in system designs.

All AUC products will include a power-off feature, Ioff, which disables output from the device to support live or hot insertion of boards into system backplanes. This is a critical feature for telecom, networking and computing applications that must remain running while boards are inserted or removed.

In 2002, both Philips Semiconductors and TI intend to introduce 16-bit and 32-bit-wide devices to support telecom, networking and computing applications that require high-speed data throughput and enhanced signal integrity.

"For many years, Philips Semiconductors and TI have jointly developed consistent product specifications, roadmaps and strategies that address the needs of our customers," said David Hoover, worldwide product marketing manager for TI's standard linear and logic products. "This collaboration has been highly successful in creating new and advanced logic products and providing customers with reliable alternate sources for their logic needs."

Pricing and Availability

AUC samples in the PicoGate package are available now. Volume production will start in the first quarter of 2002. In volume quantities of 1,000 pieces or more, the estimated price will be $0.18. Data sheets and additional information can be found at www.philipslogic.com.

About Philips Semiconductors

Philips Semiconductors, with revenues of $6.3 billion in 2000, is a world leader in silicon systems and standard products for wireless communications, digital entertainment, computing and automotive applications. The organization designs, develops and manufactures silicon solutions based on its innovative Nexperia(TM) architectures to create living technology for its customers creating the products, service providers using the products and consumers enjoying the resulting products and services. For more information: www.semiconductors.philips.com.

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