Toshiba announces 622 Mbps SAR aimed at high end server and video server applications

Business Wire, Sept 28, 1995

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1995--Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) Thursday announced the availability of a 622 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Segmentation Assembly and Reassembly (SAR) chip set aimed at the enterprise-level high end and server market, including video servers.

The chip set is the industry's first 622 ATM SAR, and is licensed to Toshiba for manufacture and sale by Sierra Research and Technology, a Mountain View, Calif.-based startup focusing on the design of integrated circuits for networking markets.

"Toshiba intends to demonstrate leadership in the emerging ATM market," according to Ravi Sethi, market development specialist. "We are focusing on the high end server and the video server markets because that is where today's capacities will soon be outgrown. Toshiba's proven, advanced ASIC technology and strong manufacturing capability will enable the company to bring ATM products to market quickly to meet the growing demand for greater capacity."

The 622 ATM SAR chip set consists of a segmentation (TC35860) and a Reassembly chip (TC35861), providing a full duplex function. Each chip can support up to 32 kilobits.

Virtual Channels (VCs) and supports the ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) 3/4, 5, and partial AAL1 functions. The Transmit/Segmentation chip has a very accurate rate control mechanism for Constant Bit Rate traffic on a per VC basis. There are 16 rate generators with 12-bit M/N accuracy.

The host interface is through a shared memory, and the SAR to shared memory bus is 64-bits wide. There is a separate descriptor memory and a local SAR control memory. A microprocessor interface to the SAR chips is provided for the management functions. Line interface is provided through a 16-bit UTOPIA interface.

The TC35860 and TC35861 are housed in 240-pin plastic quad flat pack. Samples are available now and volume production is expected by the end of this year. Pricing is $625 for the chip set in 1,000 piece lots.

Sierra Research and Technology Inc., designs innovative products in the areas of networking and data communications. In addition to these areas, Sierra Research and Technology has experience and capability to undertake customer initiated projects involving complex systems, analog circuits, mixed analog digital design, complex digital circuit design, and software systems.

Within the broad areas of networking and data communications, Sierra Research and Technology has chosen to focus initially on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and Ethernet products. Sierra Research and Technology is located at 465 Fairchild Drive, Suite 130, Mountain View, Calif., phone 415/988-4800, fax 415/988-0582.

TAEC is the North American engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing arm of one of the world's largest suppliers of semiconductors, integrated circuits and electronic components for industrial and consumer applications. The company is the recognized leader in CMOS technology and has one of the broadest IC product lines in the industry.

In addition, Toshiba is a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced electron tubes and solid state devices, including color picture tubes, liquid crystal displays, medical tubes, recording media, rechargable lithium ion batteries, microwave components, laser diodes and optical transmission devices.

The ASSP unit is located at 1060 Rincon Circle, San Jose, Calif. 95131.

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CONTACT: Sierra Research and Technology

Jim White, 818/991-1509

or

Shafer Public Relations

Pam Sloane, 800/503-1177

or

Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc.

Jim Lucas, 408/526-2535 (not for reader inquiries)