Triad Semiconductor and Z-Focus to Demonstrate the World's First Software-based Real-time Single-mode Bluetooth Low Energy Data Transfer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- October 19, 2009 -- Triad Semiconductor and Z-Focus Technology Group will demonstrate the world’s first software-based, real-time Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) data transfer at ARM Techcon3 in Santa Clara, California from October 21-22, 2009.  The demonstration, based on the BLE v0.9 prototyping specification, will wirelessly stream real time digitized signals from Triad’s new Mocha development system to a PC display.

The system consists of the Z-Focus BLE-Z™ single-mode BLE stack running on Triad’s ARM® Cortex™-M0 based Mocha™ development system with the BLE wireless connection enabled by EM Microelectronics’ EM9301 BLE radio. Triad’s Mocha™ family of via-configurable arrays (VCAs) combines ultra-low power Cortex™-M0 32-bit processor performance with Triad’s silicon-proven VCA technology for rapid mixed-signal system-on-chip (SoC) design.  The flexible FPGA-based Mocha development system allows customers and partners, as demonstrated by Z-Focus, to quickly port software and develop mixed-signal prototypes of Mocha SoC solutions.

“Markets have shown a need for wireless devices that use minuscule amounts of power, such as that available from a coin-cell battery, while still being able to communicate with prevalent Bluetooth devices,” commented Mikhail Galeev, president of Z-Focus, “We believe Bluetooth Low Energy is the only solution. The Z-Focus BLE-Z stack, complemented by the extreme low power of the new Mocha-family of SoCs containing ARM’s Cortex-M0 core, will enable Bluetooth connectivity in even the most power-constrained systems. Working together, Triad, Z-Focus and EM Microelectronics were able to get real-time BLE data transfer working on Triad’s Mocha architecture in record time.”

BLE is an emerging wireless standard that will be used in ultra low power medical, fitness and consumer devices. Although the BLE v0.9 used here is a prototyping specification, BLE will be present in a billion cell phones within a few years, enabling hundreds of millions of wireless devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, heart monitors, and fitness loggers to wirelessly provide vital data to health care workers, patients, athletes and fitness devotees.

“This is exactly the sort of mixed-signal ultra low-power application that our Mocha technology was designed to enable,” said Jim Kemerling, CTO of Triad Semiconductor. “Combining Mocha with EM’s EM9031RF chip and Z-Focus’ BLE-Z single-mode BLE stack and the silicon-proven via-configurable analog and digital technology of the Mocha family provides the fastest, safest and most cost-effective way to design, prototype and produce advanced, power-efficient mixed-signal ASICs.”

Triad and Z-Focus will be demonstrating in Booth 815 At ARM TechCon3. Reid Wender, Triad’s vice president of marketing and technical sales, will also present on using Mocha mixed-signal configurability as a methodology to quickly develop products in rapidly changing markets such as BLE. The presentation – uW/Mhz is the Tip of the Iceberg in Energy Efficient SoC Design — will take place on Wednesday, October 21, at 10:00am in the Santa Clara Convention Center.

About Z-Focus

Z-Focus Technology Group, Inc. is a wireless software company that enables full end-to-end Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) solutions. Z-Focus products include a portable single-mode BLE software stack (BLE-Z™), BLE application profiles and mobile phone applications. The BLE-Z™ software stack is built on a flexible abstraction layer allowing it to be easily ported to multiple microprocessor cores architectures. For more information please contact sales@z-focus.com or visit our website at www.z-focus.com.

About Triad Semiconductor, Inc.

Triad Semiconductor, Inc., a privately held fabless semiconductor company with headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, develops, prototypes and produces mixed-signal ASICs. The company’s groundbreaking via-configurable array (VCA) technology delivers ASICs with silicon-proven analog and digital functions more quickly and at lower cost than traditional full-custom approaches. Triad’s single-mask, via-only routing cuts engineering effort and fabrication time, resulting in fast-turn prototypes and rapid access to high volume production minimal cost. For more information, please visit www.triadsemi.com or call (336) 774-2150.