IDS Signs Major Deal to Supply Flat Panel Display Maker Candescent With Yield Management and Statistical Analysis Software

Business Wire, Jan 19, 1999

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 1999--IDS Software Systems (IDS), the leading supplier of statistical analysis software for the semiconductor industry, announced today that Candescent Technologies Corp. has purchased multiple floating user licenses of dataPOWERsc(TM), IDS' powerful data management and statistical analysis software package.

IDS has also developed for Candescent a custom tool called panelMAP(TM) which will track measurements and zonal variations during the manufacturing of their high-voltage ThinCRT(TM) panels. This Field Emission Display (FED) technology will make possible next-generation thin, flat-panel, full-color computer displays in which each pixel on the screen produces light separately by a corresponding electrical discharge array (micro-electron gun).

Since this same principle is used in the CRT, it is now possible to achieve a similar level of brightness, viewing angle, and response speed. Additionally, because of the elimination of electron guns and deflection plates, FED displays can be made thin and lightweight much like LCD displays.

"We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with a company as innovative as Candescent, whose products will have a very positive impact on notebook, portable and desktop computer screens as well as many household and automotive applications," said Andre Hawit, president and CEO of IDS.

"While our core products were originally targeted toward semiconductor manufacturers, the success that we've enjoyed with companies like Candescent strengthens our resolve to venture into other arenas where our tools can definitely be implemented. These include industries such as disk storage, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, where massive amounts of data need to be managed and analyzed."

"IDS and Candescent have worked very well together over the past few months in implementing the dataPOWERsc system," said Tom Dillon, vice president and CIO of Candescent.

"We are very impressed by the effectiveness and ease-of-use of the IDS package, especially when compared to the system that it replaced, which failed to meet our expectations after one year of use. In terms of flexibility, speed, platform compatibility, and cost versus performance, dataPOWERsc is unlike anything else we've seen or used."

About IDS

IDS Software Systems, based in Foster City, is a privately held corporation founded in 1991. It is a supplier of easy-to-use, platform-independent application software that gives semiconductor, flat panel display and disk storage manufacturers powerful data management and statistical analysis tools to improve yields, quality and productivity.

IDS provides a complete solution for managing and analyzing data, turning it into vital information. Its software is currently being used by such well-known organizations as Analog Devices (NYSE:ADI), Candescent Technologies, Cirrus Logic, Intel (Nasdaq:INTC), LSI Logic (NYSE:LSI), Mitel (NYSE:MLT), MOSAID (Toronto:MSD.TO), NEC, Philips Semiconductors, Rockwell (NYSE:ROK), Telcom, Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) and Xerox (NYSE:XRX).

The IDS dataPOWERsc product offering includes: dataBASE(TM) -- for comprehensive data collection and management; dataANALYZER(TM) -- for intuitive, interactive statistical analysis; waferMAP(TM)-binMAP(TM) -- for graphical zonal analysis and pattern detection of process, parametric and binning results; reportGENERATOR(TM) -- for automated characterization and statistical summary reports; yieldOPTIMIZER(TM) -- for yield, defect density and binning trends; shmooPLOT(TM) -- for single and multi-dimensional condition analysis; patternROBUSTNESS(TM) -- for test pattern stability analysis; dataFLOW(TM) -- for automated, intelligent file transfer protocol; and panelMAP(TM) -- for analysis of regional and location dependencies and detection of patterns related to equipment.

Additional information about IDS Software Systems can be found at www.idsusa.com or by calling 650/349-0500.

About Candescent Technologies

Candescent Technologies was founded in 1991 to develop, manufacture and market the world's first ThinCRT. ThinCRTs deliver full-motion, true color video image quality in a low-power, low-cost flat-panel display. Candescent intends to become a major supplier of flat panel displays for notebook computers, communications and consumer products.

Candescent's corporate offices are located at 6320 San Ignacio Ave., San Jose, Calif., 95119. Other information about Candescent is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.candescent.com.