PLDA and ChipX Announce Collaboration -- PCI Express IP Integrated in Structured ASIC to Offer Complete PCIe Solution

San Jose, Calif. -- July 19, 2006 — PLDApplications (PLDA) and ChipX Inc. today announced a licensing agreement for integration of PLDA's PCIe XpressRich IP with the ChipX CX6100 family of Structured ASICs.

"Our proven system helps our customers reduce risk and shorten their development cycle," explains Elie Massabki, vice president of marketing at ChipX. "By integrating PLDA's IP plus an industry-standard PHY, the CX6100 product family offers a comprehensive PCIe subsystem ready for PCI-SIG® compliance testing".

The CX6100 product family, which supports x1, x4, and x8 lanes at 2.5 Gbps and ASIC gate counts of 240K to 1.8M usable gates, offers industry-leading performance using the UMC eight-metal high-speed 0.13µ deep sub-micron process. And by integrating a silicon proven IP controller and silicon proven PHY, the CX6100 removes complexity and risk of IP interoperability testing, enabling faster time to volume production.

"We are pleased to work with an innovative company like ChipX that offers a unique solution in the Structured ASIC market," explains Arnaud Schleich, co-founder and vice president of PLDA. "Our collaboration will allow our common customers to ultimately develop their own PCI Express solution."

The market-proven PCI-SIG compliant PCIe XpressRich IP offers a high-performance architecture in a highly configurable RTL-level function. Available as an Endpoint, Root Port, Switch, or Bridge, the XpressRich IP is a secure and proven solution verified with multiple Verification IP vendors and interoperable with all of the main PHY IP vendors. 

"PLDA is the largest provider of IP cores for the logical and transport layers of PCI, PCI-X and PCI Express," according to A Guide to High-Speed Interconnects, published by The Linley Group, Inc. Since 2004, PLDA has listed its PCI Express IP core on the PCI-SIG integrators list, and today has sold over 200 PCI Express licenses and is silicon proven with 90, 130, & 180 nm.

Product Availability

PLDA PCIe IP controllers are shipping now. Please visit www.plda.com for details.
ChipX can deliver tested prototypes within 4-5 weeks and production parts within 10-12 weeks of ordering.

About PLDA

PLDA designs and sells a wide range of ASIC and FPGA interfacing solutions for the PCI and derivative markets (PCI Express, PCI-X, and PCI). The company offers complete solutions to a global market, including IP cores, hardware, software, consulting services, and comprehensive technical support provided directly by the IP designers. For additional information about PLD Applications, please visit www.plda.com.

About ChipX

ChipX, Inc. is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of late-stage programmable application-specific integrated circuits, or Structured ASICs. The company's innovative, patented technology consolidates wafer production tooling, reduces time-to-market and minimizes the total cost to profit. ChipX Structured ASIC technology is widely used in consumer equipment, computing peripherals, communication systems, industrial control, medical equipment, instrumentation and military/aerospace systems.
 
Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, ChipX is a privately held corporation, founded in the U.S. in 1989. A subsidiary, ChipX (Israel) Ltd., performs Research & Development. Investors include Elron Electronic Industries, Ltd. (NASDQ: ELRN), VantagePoint Venture Partners, Wasserstein Venture Capital, Newlight Associates, Parker Price Venture Capital, UMC, Needham Capital Partners and Insite Capital.