Arasan Chip Systems Introduces New Low Voltage SDIO Validation Platform

First Validation Tool to Support 1.8V and 3.3V SD/SDIO Card Products

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- April 16, 2008 -- Arasan Chip Systems, Inc. (``Arasan''), a leader in Intellectual Property (IP) solutions -- IP cores, Verification IP (VIP), Software drivers and stacks and Hardware solutions, today said it has expanded its SD/SDIO solution to include a low voltage SD/SDIO Device Hardware Validation Platform (HVP).

As secure digital cards continue to serve as the basis for next generation consumer products -- bluetooth, cameras, GPS receivers, and wireless network adapters -- the need for low power systems will continue to drive designs. Today, designers need a low power platform to test and validate their 1.8V/3.3V SDIO card products before going to market.

``Customers have been pushing us for some time now to provide a hardware validation migration path from 3.3V to 1.8V SD/SDIO card products,'' said Kevin K. Yee, Vice President of Marketing at Arasan. ``In response, customers now have immediate access to the first low power SD/SDIO HVP, testing and validating interoperability of 3.3V and 1.8V SD/SDIO cards before going to market.''

SDIO Device Hardware Validation Platform

The new SD/SDIO Device HVP is a SD host platform tool based upon Arasan's SD/SDIO host controller used for SDIO device validation. The Device HVP is a 32-bit PCI plug-in board that supports both 1.8V and 3.3V SDIO systems. Fully compliant with SD/SDIO v2.0, SD Memory v2.0, and MMC v4.3, the SD socket can interface to any standard SD or MMC card for fast validation. It is designed for both hardware and software testing and provides a low power platform for interoperability.

The SD Device HVP includes 2 SD/MMC sockets for testing, a pre-configured FPGA device for the SD/SDIO host control, and a simple toggle switch to change from 3.3V to 1.8V SD operation. In addition to the HVP, Arasan offers a suite of SD/SDIO/MMC/CE-ATA IP Cores ranging from SD Memory, SDIO host/device, MMC/eMMC, and ATA.

Pricing and Availability

The Arasan SDIO Device HVP is readily available and is shipping to customers.

About Arasan

Arasan Chip Systems Inc., based in San Jose, CA, USA, is a world leading supplier of IP and the ``Total IP Solution'' ranging from Intellectual Property (IP), Verification IP (VIP), Hardware Development Kits, Validation Platforms, Software Drivers / Stacks, and Design Services. Arasan delivers technology-leading IP solutions like MIPI, SD / SDIO, USB, PCI, Ethernet, MMC, CE-ATA, CF+, NAND and more, to the global electronics market. Arasan's goal is to enable designers to accelerate their development and simplify their production of complex system-on-chip (SoCs). Arasan provides a competitive advantage through a combination of domain expertise, silicon proven IP, hardware / software tools, and customized service . . . the ``Total IP Solution''.