True Circuits PLLs Used by ARM in Verification of Cortex-A9 Microprocessor Cores

LOS ALTOS, Calif.--January 24, 2011 --True Circuits, Inc. (TCI), a leading provider of analog and mixed-signal intellectual property (IP) for the semiconductor, systems and electronics industries announced today that ARM is using clock generator PLL designs from TCI in a test chip for the ARM® Cortex™-A9 microprocessor core to validate it in TSMC’s 40nm general purpose process technology. ARM will use these high-performance, silicon proven PLL hard macros to provide the reliable, high frequency and low-jitter clocks required for these advanced, scalable and high functionality applications processors.

“Over the last nine years, ARM has used a variety of high performance PLLs from True Circuits in test and development systems to showcase the performance and flexibility of our flagship processor products,” said Peter Hutton, VP Technology & Systems, Processor Division, ARM. “We have now extended the list of processors to include the ARM Cortex-A family of applications processors, including the scalable Cortex-A9 hard core in TSMC’s 40nm G process. TCI’s wide range, low-jitter PLLs enable us to demonstrate the speed and functionality of ARM cores and enable our silicon and software partners to optimize and accelerate their own development on advanced Cortex-A platforms.”

“TCI is proud of our long standing IP partnership with ARM and we are pleased that ARM is using our PLLs for their flagship Cortex-A9 processor development in advanced process technologies,” said Stephen Maneatis, Chief Executive Officer of True Circuits. “Over the past thirteen years, TCI has established itself as the technology leader in timing IP development and our high performance, feature rich PLLs provide real differentiation for ARM7™, ARM9™, ARM11™ and Cortex-A processor implementations. By collaborating with ARM early in their development cycles, our mutual customers can have great confidence in the silicon realization of these cores. We are looking forward to supporting ARM and its Connected Community with silicon proven PLLs for Cortex-A hard and soft core SoC solutions that offer high performance, low risk and faster time to market.”

About True Circuits PLLs and DLLs

True Circuits offers a complete family of standardized and silicon-proven general purpose, clock generator, deskew, low bandwidth and spread spectrum PLLs and DDR DLLs that spans nearly all performance points and features typically requested by ASIC, FPGA and SoC designers. These high quality, low-jitter PLL and DLL hard macros are suited to a wide variety of interface standards and chip applications. They are pin-programmable, highly process tolerant and reusable. They are also easy to integrate and are fully supported, so customers can reduce both design and silicon risks.

True Circuits PLLs are available in a range of frequencies, multiplication factors (1-4096), sizes and functions over which they deliver optimal performance, avoiding the cost and complexity of licensing multiple point-solution PLLs from foundries or other vendors. TCI's DLLs are available in mutli-slave and multi-phase versions and delay a set of signals by precise and adjustable fractions of a reference clock cycle independent of voltage and temperature, are ideal for high-speed DDR interface applications and are available in different sizes and form factors. Customized PLL and DLL solutions are also available for specialized chip applications.

For more information about True Circuits IP products, visit www.truecircuits.com/tci_technology.html and www.truecircuits.com/product_matrix.html.

Price and Availability

True Circuits PLLs and DLLs are available for immediate customer delivery in TSMC, GlobalFoundries, UMC and Common Platform processes from 180nm to 28nm. Customers can license its timing IP either directly from TCI or through its global network of design services partners and sales reps. The hard macros are available for a per use license fee and no royalty fees. The license fee includes integration support from TCI or its partners to ensure a successful customer tape out. The deliverables include GDSII and LVS Spice netlists, behavioral and synthesis models, Library Exchange Format (LEF) files and extensive user documentation.

About True Circuits

True Circuits develops and markets a broad range of industry leading PLLs, DLLs and other mixed-signal hard macros for ICs for the semiconductor, systems and electronics industries. TCI's robust state-of-the-art circuits, methodical and proven design strategy, and close association with the world's leading fabs, IDMs, and design services companies allow the company to quickly and reliably create new and innovative designs in a variety of advanced process technologies. Over the last 13 years, True Circuits has distinguished itself as the technology leader in the timing IP space, and its PLLs and DLLs are used extensively around the world in its customers' products with production volumes now in the billions.

True Circuits is headquartered at 4300 El Camino Real, Suite 200, Los Altos, California 94022 and can be found on the web at www.truecircuits.com. Product inquiries can be made by calling the company directly at (650) 949-3400 or via e-mail at sales@truecircuits.com.