Zilog Expands Competitively Priced Voice Processing Family With Caller ID And Flash Memory.

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1996--Zilog Inc. (NYSE:ZLG) today announced the Z89175 and Z89176 (ROMless) voice controllers which offer greater levels of systems integration for applications such as digital telephone answering devices with integrated Caller ID and speaker phone systems, voice note applications, security systems and interactive toys.

"When combined with memory, the new mixed signal devices give OEMs a two-chip solution to quickly develop cost-effective consumer voice applications for the high-volume consumer market," said Phil Levine, channel manager for home communications. "In addition, the devices integrate stored voice prompts/date time stamps, an on-board Codec, and have Caller ID and speaker phone capabilities."

Dual Processor Architecture - A Two-Chip Solution

The new members of the Zilog voice processing family continue to utilize the advanced architecture of integrating a Z8(R) microcontroller and a 16-bit DSP core which lowers cost, improves system performance and reduces board space. The Z8 microcontroller manages I/O intensive tasks including memory interface and the powerful 16-bit DSP provides the algorithm processing power required for telephone voice quality as well as the capability to identify, display and annunciate incoming phone numbers.

Flexible Memory Options

The devices incorporate Zilog's proprietary software to provide the flexibility which supports a variety of low-cost FLASH memory and Audio RAM (ARAM) options. The Z89175/176 supports up to two of Samsung's new KM29N040 512K x 8-bit FLASH memories or up to two 4MB ARAMS.

Levine points out that FLASH memory gives users the ability to store a nonvolatile message, which is a critical feature in many voice recording applications.

The Z89175 and Z89176 are the most cost-effective and feature- rich members of Zilog's voice processing family. The Z89175 has 24K of Z8 ROM and 8K word of DSP ROM for programming advanced features such as an enhanced high-compression voice coder, Caller ID or speaker phone. The devices feature operating speeds of 20 Mhz and at 29 Mhz for use with the more advanced 6.8 Kbs voice coder.

Both parts are available in a 100-pin QFP package and are priced in the $6.00 range in high quantities.

Fast Product Development

To assist with the design efforts and to minimize time-to-market, Zilog's $495.00 Voice Processing/Flash Memory Implementation Kit, the Z8917500ZCO, includes a demonstration board which utilizes Samsung's flash memory, application software, schematics, and a complete bill of materials.

The kit also features a library of linear predictive coding (LPC) prerecorded voice prompts to eliminate the need for manufacturers to develop their own prerecorded messages. Non-English LPC support is also available.

Zilog is an innovator in the development, design and manufacture of application specific standard products (ASSPs) for the data com- munications, peripherals and consumer products markets. ASSPs are very large scale integrated circuits designed for a particular market application rather than a single customer. The company utilizes its Superintegration(TM) design methodology to combine cores and cells from the company's extensive library of customer-familiar microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory and logic circuits to meet the design, cost and time-to-market requirements of its customers.

Zilog has its headquarters in Campbell, California and had 1994 revenues of $223.3 million. It employs approximately 1,500 people and has 26 direct sales offices and more than 120 distributor and rep locations worldwide. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Z8 is a registered trademark of Zilog, Inc. Superintegration is a trademark of Zilog, Inc.

CONTACT: Zilog, Inc.

Chris Bradley, 408-370-8246, Fax [phone]