Vimicro PC-CAM Processors in Production With Kilopass' Embedded Non-Volatile Memory Technology

Update: Synopsys Expands DesignWare IP Portfolio with Acquisition of Kilopass Technology (Jan. 10, 2018)

SANTA CLARA, CA -- March 9, 2011 – Kilopass Technology Inc., a leading provider of semiconductor logic non-volatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP), and Vimicro International Corporation (NASDAQ:VIMC – News), a leading multimedia semiconductor and solution provider that designs advanced mixed-signal multimedia products and solutions, today announced that Vimicro is using Kilopass NVM IP in a line of notebook PC-camera processors. The Kilopass NVM is ideal for firmware storage and allows developers a flexible update path while supporting Vimicro’s high-performance requirements.

Vimicro’s PC-camera solution used by Tier-1 global notebook original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) features low-power consumption and high performance, including HD-quality image processing and best-in-class system flexibility. By deploying a system-level integration approach, Vimicro reduces overall product costs while delivering industry-leading performance features for the notebook marketplace. The Kilopass NVM IP is a field-programmable solution, enabling flexible and custom firmware updates, shorter time to market, and a significantly reduced bill of materials (BOM).

John Fan, general manager of Product Lines at Vimicro, commented, “By utilizing Kilopass technology, we are able to design cost effective, market-leading PC-camera processors with flexible upgradeability. Combined with Vimicro’s innovative Firmware Patch technology, Kilopass NVM IP provides Vimicro customers the ability to easily upgrade firmware without a requirement for external memory modules.”

“We are pleased Vimicro has chosen Kilopass’ NVM solution for next-generation PC-camera products,” said Kilopass CEO Charlie Cheng. “This technology supports the aggressive performance and power requirements of Vimicro’s products while reducing BOM cost and delivering maximum usability to their end customers.”

Kilopass’ 2T one-time programmable (OTP) technology can be implemented in standard CMOS without additional masks or processing steps and is available from 180nm down to 40-nanometer (nm) process nodes, with 28nm available in the second quarter of 2011. Extremely dense and reliable, Kilopass’ OTP technology has been used in a wide variety of applications including digital trimming, calibration, security key and code storage. With the recently announced Gusto™ family of single instance 512kbit, 1Mbit, 2Mbit and 4Mbit OTP macros, Kilopass’ continues to lead the embedded NVM market with innovative, cost-conscious solutions.

About Vimicro International Corporation

Vimicro International Corporation is a leading multimedia semiconductor and solution provider that designs, develops and markets mixed-signal semiconductor products and system-level solutions that enable multimedia capabilities in a variety of products for the consumer electronics and communications markets. Vimicro is also expanding business into the surveillance market with system-level solutions and semiconductor products. Vimicro’s ADSs, each of which represents four ordinary shares, are currently trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol “VIMC.”

About Kilopass

Kilopass Technology, Inc., a leading supplier of embedded NVM intellectual property, leverages standard logic CMOS processes to deliver one-time programmable (OTP) memory. With 57 patents granted or pending and more than 800,000 wafers shipped from a dozen foundries and Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDM), Kilopass has more than 90 customers in applications ranging from storage of firmware and security codes to calibration data and other application-critical information. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, please visit www.kilopass.com or email info@kilopass.com.