New Epson Color LCD Controller Targets Mobile Phone Market

Business Wire, July 31, 2001

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2001

Epson Electronics America Inc., the world's leader in color LCD controllers, today announced the S1D13708B00B embedded memory LCD controller as the newest member of its popular product line targeted for embedded and handheld markets.

The S1D13708 features a 1.8V operating voltage and a full-featured/low pin-count interface to the microprocessor, making it ideal for inclusion in an LCD module.

The S1D13708 provides a low cost, low power, single chip solution to meet the demands of embedded markets such as mobile communications devices and Palm-size PCs, where board size and battery life are major concerns. Other features include embedded display buffer, direct support for multiple CPU types, programmable resolutions and color depths, software-initiated power save mode and a 121-pin PFBGA package.

Epson has already experienced considerable success with its other color LCD controllers in this product line, securing major design wins in the color PDA market. Recognizing that the mobile phone industry is one of the fastest growing market segments with manufacturers offering more and more features already available on PDAs and other handheld devices, Epson has designed this new member of the 1370X product line to specifically target that market. Controllers from Epson provide designers the ability to push their feature set to the level of PDAs, positioning mobile phones as the next multimedia platform.

"Working directly with many of the leading LCD manufacturers has enabled us to tailor the S1D13708 to fit their specific needs," said George Lyons, director, product engineering, Epson Research and Development Inc. "This device meets the demands of the mobile markets since it uses the lowest current of any of our products, is available in our smallest package size and provides our lowest CPU pin-count. And, we offer all of these benefits while still providing a full-featured LCD controller."

"Having already secured a design win for Sony's So503i series of i-mode cellular phones in Japan, Epson anticipates successful mobile phone market penetration for the S1D13708," Lyons added.

Epson's 12 years of experience designing for this market, extensive product offering and world class customer support has given them brand name recognition as the defacto standard LCD controller in the embedded markets.

Availability

Epson's S1D13708 embedded memory LCD controller is scheduled to be available in sample quantities in August 2001. Production quantities are slated for November 2001. For sales information, visit Epson Electronics America on the Web at www.eea.EPSON.com.

About Epson Research and Development Inc.

Epson Research and Development's Vancouver Design Center is a leader in the development of LCD controller related integrated circuits and software. As part of the Epson family of companies, and in keeping with Epson's emphasis and reputation as a quality supplier of low power semiconductors, the Vancouver Design Center's focus is on developing the world's best low power LCD graphics controller chips for customers designing mobile and embedded systems products.

For further information on Epson's LCD controller products, visit Epson Research and Development on the Web at www.erd.EPSON.com.

About Epson Electronics America Inc.

Epson Electronics America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corp. in Japan that is chartered to market, sell and support Epson's electronic devices in the Americas. These devices include semiconductors, silicon foundry, packaging and assembly services, quartz devices, LCDs and device-applied products.

Additional information on the Epson S1D13708 may be viewed at www.eea.EPSON.com.

Note to Editors: All other products, services or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarked, registered or copyrighted by their respective owner.