Avnet and Cypress Release Upgraded Spartan-3A FPGA Evaluation Kit

Upgraded Kit Enables Touch Sensing, USB and Analog Reconfiguration via PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip for $39

PHOENIX--  September 02, 2008 -- The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business region of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) and Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY) have upgraded the Spartan®-3A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Evaluation Kit. The upgraded kit includes the addition of Cypress’ CY3217 (MiniProg) Programmer to the Xilinx Spartan-3A FPGA Evaluation Kit, which enables touch sensing capability, USB connectivity and analog programming. The kits, which were released May 15, are being offered exclusively from Avnet for $39.

The Avnet Spartan-3A FPGA Evaluation Kit pairs Xilinx low-cost Spartan-3A 400A FPGA technology with the Cypress PSoC® programmable system-on-chip. PSoC delivers flexibility for high-volume applications by enabling FPGA configuration and Flash memory re-programming through a built-in USB interface, making it the perfect companion chip for FPGAs. The included CY3217 MiniProg programmer and downloadable PSoC Designer™ software enables reconfiguration of the PSoC device for evaluating integrated USB connectivity, CapSense™ touch sensing, clocks and programmable analog functionality.

“FPGA and embedded systems designers are looking for robust configuration solutions and fast, flexible integration of components and new features,” said Jim Cairns, senior marketing director for Cypress. “Adding the MiniProg enables prototyping with FPGA and PSoC reconfiguration, USB, CapSense touch sensing, clocks and analog inputs, making this kit an extraordinary value.”

“In addition to being easy to use and improving system quality, a single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral functions, resulting in faster design time, freeing up board space and reducing power consumption,” said Tim Barber, senior vice president of design chain business development worldwide for Avnet Electronics Marketing. “This offers customers flexibility and significant cost savings that will also reduce their time to market.”

To date Avnet has shipped two thousand kits, with an additional two thousand kits available mid-October. For more information and to purchase, please visit: www.em.avnet.com/spartan3a-evl.

About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip™, USB controllers, general-purpose programmable clocks and memories. Cypress also offers wired and wireless connectivity solutions ranging from its WirelessUSB™ radio system-on-chip, to West Bridge™ and EZ-USB® FX2LP controllers that enhance connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial, and solar power. Cypress trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at www.em.avnet.com. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.