Conexant Introduces Industry's First Complete USB 2.0 Bus-Powered Reference Design for Broadcast TV into a PC

Business Wire, Sept 13, 2004

RED BANK, N.J. -- New Triple-play Platform Enables USB Connectivity for Broadcast Audio, Video and Data PC Applications

Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today introduced the industry's first complete USB 2.0 bus-powered reference design to enable high-quality broadcast television applications on a notebook or desktop computer. The new audio, video and data streaming solution is based on Conexant's low-power CX25840 integrated audio/video (A/V) decoder. It includes features that provide significant improvements in audio and video quality, and allows consumers to extend the broadcast television experience to the PC. In addition, the highly integrated device allows developers to minimize bill-of-material costs, while still providing high-quality audio and video performance.

"With our new USB 2.0 solution, manufacturers can leverage a highly integrated and complete reference platform to deliver high-performance desktop and notebook products supporting streaming of uncompressed audio, video and VBI data for PC TV applications over an internal or external USB 2.0 connection," said Greg Fischer, vice president of Convergence Video Products for Conexant. "This comprehensive design reduces the amount of time and engineering resources required for new product designs, which in turn brings down overall development costs. For further cost savings, we have been able to reduce the component count on our reference design by approximately 50 percent, which facilitates the development of small form factor TV tuner and video capture peripheral products based on USB 2.0."

Conexant's new audio/video platform meets USB interface bus power requirements. In addition, audio, video and data are internally multiplexed and work with the USB controller to meet USB isochronous data rates. The platform is based on Microsoft Windows(R) Device Model (WDM) driver, and supports Windows 2000, XP and Media Center Edition operating systems.

About the CX25840 Audio/Video Decoder and Reference Design

The CX25840 substantially advances broadcast stereo performance, with as much as 10dB improvement in signal-to-noise and stereo separation when compared to current products. It can automatically detect and configure both broadcast audio and video, and accepts a wide array of inputs including composite video baseband signal, S-Video and component video. Baseband audio can be supported via an I2S or AC 97 audio codec. Audio features include a flexible I2S I/O port that can accept up to 24 bits of audio resolution and a sample rate of 96 kHz, the ability to manage both broadcast and baseband audio, and an embedded graphic equalizer that can adjust both broadcast and baseband to accommodate personal preferences. In addition to the CX25840 A/V decoder, the reference design includes software, gerbers, schematics and drivers.

Conexant offers a complete suite of components and system solutions for all major consumer video applications ranging from standard and high-definition video to interactive consumer entertainment services delivered through a set-top box, PC, digital video recorder or game console. The company's video and multimedia product offering includes analog and digital video encoders/decoders, PCI video decoders, software and complete reference designs.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications, enterprise networks and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11a/b/g-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug(SM) and HomePNA(TM). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company with annual run-rate revenues of approximately $1.0 billion. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Red Bank, N.J. To learn more, please visit us at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the uncertainties of litigation; and the risk that the businesses of Conexant and GlobespanVirata will not be integrated successfully, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.