Plato Networks Adopts Tensilica's Diamond Standard 108Mini For Upcoming 10Gigabit PHY Design

Update: Cadence Completes Acquisition of Tensilica (Apr 24, 2013)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – February 12, 2007 – Tensilica, Inc. today announced that Plato Networks, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., has licensed the Diamond Standard 108Mini processor core for an upcoming 10 Gigabit Ethernet physical layer transceiver (PHY) chip design. Plato Networks is developing low-power, single-chip, 10 Gbps physical layer ICs for low-cost copper cabling based on the newly approved IEEE 10GBASE-T standard (802.3an).

“We needed the flexibility of a small 32-bit processor core for the evolving requirements of the 10 Gbps PHY market,” stated Pirooz Hojabri, vice president of engineering, Plato Networks. “The Diamond Standard 108Mini was the perfect fit from a size, power, code density, and cost perspective.”

The Diamond Standard 108Mini is a fully synthesizable low-power 32-bit RISC CPU controller core. Even though it is smaller in die area than other 32-bit CPUs, it is capable of handling control-plane applications where minimal die area and low power are very important.

"With their considerable expertise in analog and mixed-signal design, Plato Networks is prepared to provide the chip-level solutions needed for next-generation data centers," stated Steve Roddy, Tensilica's vice president of marketing. "The Diamond Standard 108Mini processor core gives them the performance of the Xtensa architecture – the fastest growing industry-standard general purpose CPU architecture in the market – in a very power efficient implementation."

About Plato Networks

Plato Networks is developing innovative physical layer integrated circuits to address next-generation I/O requirements in the data center. Based on its unique approach to signaling technology, Plato Networks products are more reliable over existing data center cabling, consume less power, travel further, ensure scalability, and minimize silicon and board real estate through greater integration when compared with competing solutions on the market. More information is available at www.platonetworks.com.

About Tensilica

Tensilica, Inc., is the recognized leader in configurable processor technology and has leveraged that technology to become the leading supplier of licensable controllers and DSP cores for mobile audio and video applications. Tensilica offers the broadest line of controller, CPU, network, and specialty DSP processors on the market today – including full software toolchain and modeling support - in both an off-the-shelf format via the Diamond Standard Series cores and with full designer configurability with the Xtensa processor family. The modern design behind all of Tensilica’s processor cores provide semiconductor companies and system OEMs with the lowest power, smallest area solutions for high-volume products including mobile phones and other consumer electronics, networking and telecommunications equipment, and computer peripherals. For more information on Tensilica’s patented, benchmark-proven processors, visit www.tensilica.com.