Alliance Semiconductor Tackles EMI Reduction in Switching Power Supply Market; Industry First Stand-Alone IC Reduces Noise Emissions in Switched Mode Power Supplies

Business Wire, Jan 21, 2003

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2003

Alliance Semiconductor Corporation (Nasdaq:ALSC) today introduced its family of Spread Spectrum ICs designed specifically for Switched Mode Power Supplies (SMPS). The AS80M18xx family, an industry first, is designed to work as companion chips to standard, off-the-shelf Pulse Width Modulator (PWM) Controllers.

The AS80M18xx family for SMPS reduces the electromagnetic interference (EMI) by modulating the PWM gate drive signal to the power MOSFET. Gate drive modulation significantly reduces the conducted and radiated EMI generated from the large, high frequency currents in the power MOSFET. By modulating the switching frequency of SMPS, the AS80M18xx family is able to reduce conducted and radiated emissions directly benefiting DC/DC converters, AC/DC inverters and DC/AC inverters. The AS80M18xx family is a simple "drop-in" solution between the PWM controller and the MOSFET for EMI related problems in SMPS.

"Alliance is a well-established supplier of EMI reduction ICs for the computing and consumer space, and is now extending its product line to address a new and very large market of switching power supplies," said N.D. Reddy, CEO and president of Alliance. "One of our core competencies, mixed-signal design, combined with our proven track record of innovation in the EMI reduction market enables us to rapidly bring products to market and to expand into new markets where EMI reduction is becoming more and more critical."

By minimizing the need for EMI shields and filters, the AS80M18xx family for SMPS makes the system smaller and less expensive and improves the system efficiency in high-power switching supplies. Additionally, by simplifying the PCB layout, the AS80M18xx family enables fewer design iterations, resulting into a faster time-to-market. Further, the AS80M18xx family introduces features that were traditionally implemented in high-end systems into low cost, generic PWM controllers. Some of these features, such as "no-load sense capability" and "frequency sense mode" are critical for Energy Star compliant systems.

"Alliance is committed to developing superior products to meet our customers needs for next generation systems," said Alliance's general manager and vice president, Mixed-Signal business unit, Narendar Venugopal. "The AS80M18xx is the first family of EMI reduction ICs that bring high-end features into low-end systems, offering architects of SMPS systems design options not available before."

The AS80M18xx family of Spread Spectrum ICs for SMPS implements modulation circuitry in a proprietary, all-digital method and meets the most efficient modulation profile approved by the FCC. The family currently comprises two devices. The AS80M1800 is designed to work in the range of 50 KHz-400 KHz input frequency while the AS80M1801 device is designed to work in the 400 KHz-1MHz input frequency range. Both devices are available in an 8-pin SOIC package, two power saving modes for ultra-low power consumption, and a wide operating voltage range of 7V to 20V. The AS80M1800 is priced at $0.30 and the AS80M1801 is priced at $0.45 in quantities of 100K units. Both devices will be sampling at the end of March 2003.

About Alliance:

Alliance Semiconductor Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of memory, mixed signal and systems solutions for networking, wireless, consumer and computing markets. Through these integrated business units, Alliance provides leading OEMs with synchronous and fast asynchronous SRAMs and super low-power and pseudo SRAMs, high-speed chip-to-chip interconnects based on HyperTransport(TM) technology and mixed signal products for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) management. Alliance develops and manufactures its products through independent manufacturing foundries using advanced CMOS process technologies with line widths as narrow as 0.13-microns. Founded in 1985, Alliance is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Additional information is available on Alliance's Web site at: http://www.alsc.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information, the above statements of this press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include such factors, among others, as further significant price erosion of the Company's products; continued significantly decreased demand and increased competitive environment for the Company's products; the Company's potential status as an Investment Act of 1940 reporting company; obsolescence of the Company's products; further accumulation of excess inventory or price erosion or obsolescence of existing inventory, any of which may result in charges against the Company's earnings; inability to timely ramp up production of and deliver new or enhanced products; inability to successfully recruit and retain qualified technical and other personnel; adverse developments in current or future litigation or administrative proceedings; further diminution in value of investments made by Alliance or by Alliance Venture Management, LLC; continued cancellation of orders in the Company's backlog and the risk factors listed in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 30, 2002, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available through the Company's home page, www.alsc.com. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statement is based.