ZiLOG First to Achieve Silicon Using Tensilica Xtensa Technology; New Processor Roadmap Embraces Advantages of Soft Core - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, May 29, 2000

ZiLOG Inc. (formerly ZLG on the NYSE), the Extreme Connectivity(C) Company, Monday announced that it is the first Licensee to achieve quarter-micron silicon using Tensilica's Xtensa application-specific microprocessor architecture and design environment. ZiLOG licensed the technology last year.

ZiLOG will deploy Xtensa into its Cartezian Communications Engine roadmap. The Cartezian family of embedded communications microprocessors, announced last fall, will combine the efficiency of RISC with the high-end performance of DSP processing.

"By achieving silicon with Xtensa, ZiLOG validated its ability to rapidly integrate soft intellectual property, and to integrate added value through Tensilica Instruction Extension (TIE) language instructions," said Art Miller, Vice President of Marketing for ZiLOG's Communications Business Unit.

"Soft IP, developed with the requirements of `softness' in mind, is the best starting point for SoC which require flexible roadmaps. The ability to change the instruction set allows us to quickly adapt to market conditions or performance requirements. ARM, MIPS and PowerPC architectures can't deliver this level of flexibility."

ZiLOG's new processor roadmap leverages the technological advantages of Xtensa's Soft IP, allowing ZiLOG to deliver leading solutions that customers may use in applications using standard products. These Soft IP-based solutions will allow customers to maximize their engineering resources, simplify new product development and speed time-to-market.

"ZiLOG is a leading innovator deploying its applications knowledge quickly and optimally into hardware and software solutions for customers," said Chris Rowen, CEO, Tensilica, Inc. "ZiLOG's achievement validates Tensilica's role as a foundation for silicon and system innovators and is a dramatic demonstration of Xtensa's flexibility and ease of implementation."

A 32-bit, low-power instruction set targeting mobile applications, Xtensa achieves up to 250-MHz performance in quarter-micron CMOS. Unlike contemporary core-based design that lock designers into a process, Xtensa enables designers to develop a system solution with optimal processing capability.

The architecture was designed to optimize the processor core for "connected" applications such as digital cameras, office-automation products, wireless communications devices and consumer-electronic products.

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the fast growing market for application-specific microprocessor cores and software development tools in high volume, embedded systems. Using the company's proprietary Xtensa Processor Generator, system-on-chip (SoC) designers can develop a processor subsystem hardware design and a complete software development tool environment tailored to their specific requirements in hours. Tensilica's solutions provide a proven, easy-to-use, methodology that enables designers to achieve optimum application performance in minimum design time. Tensilica is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. www.tensilica.com

ZiLOG, the Extreme Connectivity(C) Company, is a leading global design solutions company specializing in embedded and integrated circuits for the communications and connectivity markets. Headquartered in Campbell, Calif., ZiLOG employs approximately 1,300 people worldwide. ZiLOG maintains design centers in Campbell, Austin, Texas, Nampa, Idaho, Seattle, Wash., and Bangalore, India, a worldwide customer service center in Austin, advanced manufacturing in Nampa and test operations in Manila, Philippines. www.zilog.com