Agreement Targets Embedded Design Automation Support for TI Processor Cores

Santa Clara, CA - September 12, 2000 -- Aisys Inc., an automated embedded design tool vendor, today announced that it has signed a technology agreement with Texas Instruments Inc., (TI) the world leader in digital signal processing (DSP) and analog, for development of device-driver automation tools for TI processor cores. Under the general terms of the agreement, Aisys will provide versions of its DriveWay device-driver automation tool for select TI processor cores. The specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

DriveWay automates the integration of hardware and software for the creation of smart devices that are used in end-applications such as automotive and industrial control.

"TI looks for technologies that enable customers to get their products to market faster with higher quality," said Dave Maples, new business development manager, TI. "TI entered into this agreement with Aisys, because Aisys is an industry leader in device-driver automation technology."

Why use DriveWay?
In an embedded system design, DriveWay is used to automate the creation of device drivers, boot code and software glue, which can save up to 70% of design time and 50% of development cost. Without a device driver automation tool, embedded design engineers would have to manually generate these drivers, code and glue, a tedious process that can add months to the development cycle of an end-product.

"Aisys is always looking for ways to offer its automation technology to a wider range of designers," said Elan Roth, Aisys vice president of business development. "This agreement with Texas Instruments will provide embedded system designers who use certain TI cores with access to DriveWay, which reduces embedded design time by a 2X factor." Details concerning specific product delivery and pricing were not disclosed.

About Aisys
Aisys, Inc. develops and markets design automation tools and services for embedded systems that help designers reduce development time by as much as 70% and development cost by as much as 50%. The company's flagship tool, DriveWay, currently supports microcontrollers manufactured by Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor, and Motorola. Aisys was founded in 1994 and its headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California. For more information, please visit the Aisys web site at http://www.aisysinc.com.

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Aisys and DriveWay are trademarks of Aisys, Inc. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, contact:
Nancy Chou
Aisys Inc.
(408) 327-8824
E-mail: nancy@aisysinc.com

Keren Wasserman
Lee Public Relations
(650) 363-0142
E-mail:keren@leepr.com