Cypress MicroSystems Extends Programmable System on Chip (PSoC) Microcontroller with IrDA Communication

Built-in Infrared Capability Enables Design Engineers to Easily Add Communication to Embedded Applications, Including Notebook Computers, Cellular Phones and Handheld Data Collection Devices
 

BOTHELL, Wash., April 24, 2002 – Cypress MicroSystems, Inc. (CMS), a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY), today introduced an IrDA (Infrared Data Association) Communication User Module, extending the functionality and flexibility of its Programmable System on Chip (PSoC) microcontroller. The new user module provides design engineers with a built-in software tool for adding infrared capabilities to applications requiring short-range, point-to-point, cordless data transfer.

The PSoC microcontroller enables designers to select from a variety of pre-built user modules to easily define the functions of their desired application. The easy-to-use IrDA module implements all necessary protocols to ensure that IrDA applications are fully compatible with industry standards. The IrDA communication user module is available as a free feature of PSoC Designer™, the integrated development environment used by designers to view and configure all of the resources inside of a PSoC device with a few clicks of a mouse.

"The beauty of the PSoC microcontroller lies in its flexibility and simplicity," said John McDonald, vice president of marketing for Cypress MicroSystems. "By creating software user modules that offer advanced functionality without additional design steps, CMS surpasses the support offered by other MCU suppliers – not only providing the most flexible architecture, but also making the development process as painless as possible."

About the PSoC Family

The first family of PSoC microcontrollers integrates an 8-bit CPU, 8 to 16 KBytes of flash memory, SRAM, and programmable arrays of analog and digital system functions (known as PSoC blocks) in low-cost, small-footprint packages. By selecting a PSoC microcontroller with the chosen combination of memory, PSoC blocks and pins, designers have a device that can be configured to any application and reduces costs by eliminating external chips and simplifying system design.

About Cypress MicroSystems

Cypress MicroSystems designs, develops, manufactures and markets high-performance, field programmable integrated micro-based solutions for high-volume embedded control functions in computer, communications, consumer and control applications. Established as a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: CY) in the fourth quarter of 1999, Cypress MicroSystems' stockholders are its employees and Cypress Semiconductor. The close association with Cypress Semiconductor allows access to their process and design technology, and field sales and applications forces. Cypress MicroSystems is based near Seattle in Bothell, Washington. More information about Cypress MicroSystems and its products can be accessed through its Web site at www.cypressmicro.com.

About Cypress

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY) is "Driving the Communications Revolution" with high-performance integrated circuits for network infrastructure and access equipment. Leveraging its process and system-level expertise, the company designs and manufactures solutions targeted across wireless and wireline communications. Cypress supports a wide range of industry standards, such as SONET (OC-48, OC-192 and OC-768), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), InfiniBand and Gigabit Ethernet. The company's communications product lines include programmable high-speed physical layer devices (PHYs), wirespeed network search engines (NSEs) and network coprocessors (NCPs), and datapath switching elements (DSEs). Cypress is also the industry's leader in communications timing solutions, networking-optimized communications memories and personal connectivity solutions, such as USB and Bluetooth.

Cypress is a leader in pure optical and optoelectronic technologies designed to push network transmissions to higher performance levels and to satisfy the increasing demand for network bandwidth. With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress aims to become the preferred silicon supplier for network infrastructure solutions and for every network data stream to pass through at least one Cypress IC.

Cypress employs 4,000 people worldwide. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CY. More information about Cypress is accessible on the Web at http://www.cypress.com.

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Note to Editors: "Driving the Communications Revolution" is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor. PSoC, PSoC Designer, and Device Editor are trademarks of Cypress Microsystems. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.