austriamicrosystems announces license agreement with Infineon for FlexRay transceiver IC

Technology transfer as a basis for high-speed bus systems and fault-tolerant data communications in the car of the future
 
December 4, 2006 -- austriamicrosystems (SWX: AMS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of high-performance analog integrated circuits, announced today a license agreement with Infineon Technologies AG (FSE/NYSE: IFX). Under this agreement, austriamicrosystems will license FlexRay transceiver IP to Infineon, the world’s second largest manufacturer of semiconductors for automotive applications.

Increasing comfort and safety requirements in vehicles demand ever higher integration density of electronic components and a larger number of networked systems. Currently used CAN bus systems have reached the limit of their performance capabilities, especially due to a lack of bandwidth. The innovative FlexRay standard meets such future requirements and ensures optimum scalability, interoperability and stability for in-car networks.

austriamicrosystems is a pioneer in time-triggered architectures and a Premium Associate Member of the FlexRay consortium as well as a Regular Member of the JasPar consortium. With the AS8221, the company has developed the first standard product of a full line of high-speed bus transceiver ICs for automobile data bus applications. Designed to meet the stringent requirements of the FlexRay standard, austriamicrosystems’ AS8221 bus transceiver IC distinguishes itself by its outstanding network stability and bus voltage.

For austriamicrosystems this license agreement offers not only a second source strategy; it also holds the chance of speeding up the development of future transceiver devices, as such a know-how transfer can significantly accelerate the further development of the FlexRay product family. “We are excited to have won Infineon as a license partner for our FlexRay transceiver technology. Our cooperation with Infineon provides us with a competitive edge for the future and strengthens our position in the strongly growing global FlexRay market“, commented Bernhard Czar, Director Marketing Automotive at austriamicrosystems.

„On the basis of our extensive experience in secure networks based on time-triggered technology and automotive bus protocols Infineon is fully committed to closely cooperating with car manufacturers and automotive system suppliers on the FlexRay implementation,“ explained Georg Lipperer, Senior Director Marketing for Automotive Power in the Automotive, Industrial and Multimarket business unit at Infineon Technologies. „Working together with austriamicrosystems, Infineon is able to provide key customers with a FlexRay bus system including the transceiver and the stand-alone FlexRay protocol controller CIC310.“

More product specific information can be downloaded from the austriamicrosystems website at
www.austriamicrosystems.com/04segments/automotive/bus_start.htm

About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 25 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 1,000 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications, Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS).