ChipX Offers ARM Processors on Wide Range of ASICs

Update: GigOptix, Inc. Announces Acquisition of ChipX (November 10, 2009)

ChipX Licenses ARM926EJ Processor for Use With Embedded Arrays and Standard Cell ASICs

SANTA CLARA, CA--Aug 6, 2007 -- ChipX, Inc., leading the way with a broad range of next generation ASIC solutions, announced today it has licensed processor IP cores from ARM. The licensed ARM® processors include the ARM926EJ(TM) featuring an enhanced 32-bit RISC CPU, Data and Instruction CACHE, a memory management unit (MMU) and DSP instructions.

The ARM processors licensed by ChipX are popular in consumer electronics, imaging products, industrial equipment, and medical instrumentation applications. These proven embedded processor cores provide ChipX customers with a new choice in their ASIC designs, complementing the company's current CPU offering of cost effective 8- to 32-bit processors.

"The ARM926EJ processor adds a software dimension of configurability to our hardware configurable ASIC technology," said Elie Massabki, vice president of marketing at ChipX. "Designers with a significant code base written for ARM can now take advantage of ChipX's broad ASIC portfolio without having to worry about software ports to different architectures."

"ChipX has an excellent ASIC Team, and we are pleased to see them complement their engineering skills with technology that matches our requirements," said Keith Odom, R&D Fellow at National Instruments. "Adding ARM processors to their ASIC offering was a great choice."

"ChipX has some unique system-on-chip technology and licensing the ARM926EJ processor will enable them to provide a natural extension to their current offerings," said Kevin McDermott, director of CPU product marketing at ARM. "This agreement sees ChipX leveraging our technology and their membership of the ARM Connected Community to shorten and simplify customers' development cycles."

The ARM926EJ processor is available immediately on ChipX Standard Cell ASICs and Embedded Arrays. ChipX Embedded Arrays enable pre-optimized IP cores to be mixed with a configurable logic fabric core, allowing for easy logic and functionality changes using standard EDA tools and only a few metal masks.

About ChipX

ChipX, Inc. is a broad ASIC supplier and a pioneer and leader in the development and manufacturing of value-added ASIC solutions, including Structured ASIC and Embedded ASIC technology. The company's innovative, patented technology consolidates wafer production tooling, reduces time-to-market and minimizes the total cost to profit. ChipX products are widely used in consumer equipment, computing peripherals, communication systems, industrial control, medical equipment, instrumentation and military/aerospace systems. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, ChipX is a privately held corporation, founded in the U.S. in 1989. A subsidiary, ChipX (Israel) Ltd., performs Research & Development. Investors include Elron Electronic Industries, Ltd., VantagePoint Venture Partners, Wasserstein Venture Capital, Newlight Associates, Parker Price Venture Capital, UMC, Needham Capital Partners and Insite Capital.