QuickLogic Expands ArcticLink II Family To Support Qualcomm Mobile Processors

Business Wire, March 30, 2009

• Embeds 2nd generation Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE), MDDI Type 2 client with PHY, and CellularRAM framebuffer Proven System Blocks (PSBs) with patented programmable fabric
• Targets Multimedia and Smartphone handsets, Pocketable & Mobile Computing Devices (PCDs & MCDs), Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), and Netbook segments with displays ranging from Wide QVGA to Wide SVGA resolution.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- In response to growing demand for its Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) technology, QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QUIK) has announced the development of new solution platforms tailored for Qualcomm’s latest Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM7xxx-series and MSM8xxx-series mobile processors, including the recently announced Snapdragon family. The new ArcticLink® II VX4 family members incorporate the VESA compliant mobile data display interface (MDDI) used by Qualcomm MSMs with the 2nd generation VEE proven system block and embedded CellularRAM framebuffer PSBs.

Exane BNP Paribas, an Equity Brokerage and Research Services company, predicts that in 2011, Qualcomm will ship over 100 million mobile processors in 3G Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) handsets, representing 29% market share of the entire WCDMA processor market. This WCDMA market consists of two macro application segments: the smaller form factor multimedia phone, Smartphone and PCD segments, and the mid-size form factor MCD, MID, and Netbook segments. QuickLogic’s new VEE-enabled solution platforms are purposefully architected to address the technical requirements of these unique macro application segments.

Tailored for the multimedia phone, Smartphone, MCD, PCD, MID, and Netbook segments the ArcticLink II VX4 family of platforms incorporates the following key features:

• Hardwired version of VEE 2.0 PSB
• MDDI Type 2 client with PHY PSB, backwards compatible with MDDI Type 1
• Embedded CellularRAM framebuffer PSB, supporting up to Wide SVGA (1024x600) resolution at 24-bit color depth
• Low-power programmable fabric for implementing customer-specific features and use cases such as controlling sensors, haptic devices, touchscreen and LCD backlight control keyboard control, touchpad or mouse control, as well as enabling dual display functionality

“Development of the ArcticLink II VX4 solution platforms is yet another example of our commitment to delivering flexible solutions that address the rapidly evolving, but not clearly defined, requirements of portable and handheld consumer products,” said Brian Faith, QuickLogic’s vice president of worldwide marketing. “Since our launch of the 1st generation VEE PSB in early 2008, we’ve worked closely with OEMs and ODMs worldwide and found tremendous interest in tailoring our VEE technology to Qualcomm MSM-based mobile product architectures. Seeing is believing.”

VEE Improves User Experience

QuickLogic’s VEE PSB is based on the proven iridix® core licensed from Apical Limited. VEE improves the user’s visual experience by adaptively processing each video frame on a pixel-by-pixel basis. VEE also adapts to the effects of ambient lighting on display viewability, giving developers a superior solution to simply boosting display backlight intensity levels for daylight viewing. The result is a dramatic savings in power, with a corresponding battery life extension.

Coupled with the VEE PSB, the embedded CellularRAM framebuffer increases handset battery life and reduces system Bill-of-Materials (BOM) costs. First, by enabling the mobile processor to transmit display information into the framebuffer quickly, and then go to sleep while the display controller embedded in the QuickLogic solution platform autonomously refreshes the display. Second, the embedded CellularRAM framebuffer enables OEMs and ODMs to use lower cost RGB displays without framebuffers, therefore lowering the system BOM cost.

“We are excited that QuickLogic is adapting the 2nd generation VEE technology to platforms that are fully purposed for Qualcomm’s mobile processors,” said Dr. Michael Tusch, CEO of Apical, Ltd. “VEE is an ideal solution for optimizing the consumer’s viewing experience and battery life in the next generation of Internet-enabled mobile devices, under all ambient light conditions.”

Availability

The ArcticLink II VX family of solution platforms will begin sampling to early adopters in August 2009, with general samples in September 2009, and are scheduled for production availability in December 2009. QuickLogic expects to be delivering Customer Specific Standard Products (CSSPs) based on the platforms to lead OEM and ODMs in the same timeframe.