Linear Technology Selects Virage Logic's AEON(R) Non-Volatile Memory for use in High-Performance Power Management ICs

Virage Logic's Multi-Time Programmable Non-Volatile Embedded Memory Solutions Provide Advanced Functionality, Superior Quality and Reliability

FREMONT, Calif. -- Jan 28, 2009 -- Virage Logic Corporation (NASDAQ:VIRL), the semiconductor industry's trusted IP partner, today announced that Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:LLTC) has licensed Virage Logic's AEON(R) embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) solution. Linear Technology, a leading supplier of high-performance analog integrated circuits (ICs), will employ Virage Logic's NVM in its high-performance analog and power management ICs used in a wide range of applications. The multiple-time programmable (MTP) AEON product line enables semiconductor companies such as Linear Technology to confidently create differentiated products that offer greater flexibility and higher performance, without changing their existing analog blocks or designs.

"We selected Virage Logic as a partner since their advanced non-volatile memory solution complements Linear's power management technology," stated Don Paulus, Vice President, Power Management Products for Linear Technology.

Virage Logic's AEON NVM is based on a standard logic CMOS process with no additional masks or processing steps required. This eliminates costly manufacturing steps typically involved with embedded MTP NVM, while reducing the engineering effort and associated costs of integrating NVM into system-on-chip (SoC) designs.

Virage Logic performs rigorous qualification testing on its AEON NVM, including full characterization and reliability testing over extended temperatures and manufacturing process conditions. Designed for ultra-high yield and reliability, AEON provides full read and program operation across a wide temperature range, including products from -40degC to 150degC, with a minimum 10-year data retention at 150degC. Its robustness makes AEON an ideal choice for applications that require reliability in the most demanding environments.

"Linear Technology's selection of our AEON product line further validates the emphasis we put on reliability throughout the development process," said Craig Zajac, NVM product line manager, Virage Logic. "Our focused effort is to develop and provide high-quality embedded NVM IP that meets or exceeds the stringent performance and reliability requirements of the power management market."

Virage Logic's AEON supports 100,000 write-erase cycles and bit counts from eight bits to 8K bits. Virage Logic's embedded NVM product line enables 100-percent electrical testing at wafer sort and eliminates costly field programming failures associated with one-time programmable (OTP) solutions. Optimized to enable considerable manufacturing and operational flexibility, final calibration can be performed at wafer test, post-packaging, or in the field. In addition, identical ICs can be calibrated and configured to implement different features at final test, immediately prior to shipping.

AEON is available on leading foundries and in addition to being available on standard CMOS processes from 250-nanometer (nm) to 65nm, AEON is designed for Bipolar / CMOS / DMOS (BCD) processes optimized for power management and high voltage applications. Full characterization and qualification data is available upon request.

About Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, uModuleTM products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology's high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

About Virage Logic

Virage Logic is a leading provider of semiconductor intellectual property (IP) for the design of complex integrated circuits. The company's highly differentiated product portfolio includes embedded SRAMs, embedded NVMs, embedded test and repair, logic libraries, memory development software, and interface IP solutions. As the industry's trusted semiconductor IP partner, foundries, IDMs and fabless customers rely on Virage Logic to achieve higher performance, lower power, higher density and optimal yield, as well as shorten time-to-market and time-to-volume. For further information, visit http://www.viragelogic.com.