FREMONT, Calif. - Nov. 1, 1999 -- Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today announced that it is sampling the industry's first 0.25-micron single-chip disk drive electronics solution. Leveraging the mixed-signal architecture of its award-winning (1), 0.35-micron, 3Ci™-platform - now in volume production for Fujitsu - the new 0.25-micron 3Ci solution integrates a new read channel core that is up to 65% faster and a hard disk controller capable of supporting Ultra ATA data transfers. These significant performance enhancements, coupled with a more cost-effective process geometry, enable the new 3Ci platform to extend Cirrus Logic's integration leadership position beyond the mainstream desktop into both the growing consumer and enterprise-class disk drive markets.

"With its second generation 3Ci, Cirrus Logic is clearly leading the way in integrated electronics solutions for disk drives," said Xavier Pucel, manager, semiconductor research at International Data Corporation. "Solutions like 3Ci are imperative for enabling an increase in drive performance and capacity while at the same time reducing cost."

As the industry's only single-chip disk drive electronics solution, Cirrus Logic's 3Ci platform integrates a partial-response-maximum-likelihood (PRML) read-channel for reliable data acquisition up to 550 Mbps, an Ultra ATA disk controller for high-speed data transfers and an ARM 32-bit processor core to handle both system and servo control functions. Since the 3Ci platform also integrates the customer's servo logic and the ARM processor program memory, the only electronic functions needed to create a complete disk drive device are the pre-amp, motor drivers and flash memory.

"Our unique ability to deliver enterprise-class performance in a desktop-priced 3Ci solution will enable disk drive manufacturers to deploy a common electronics platform to address multiple market segments," said Art Swift, vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic's Magnetic Storage Division. "Enabling the efficiency of a common platform will reduce a disk drive manufacturers' electronics design, firmware development and validation time, significantly accelerating time-to-market and reducing disk drive electronics costs."

Read Channel Technology Fosters Capacity & Performance Increases

Key to implementing a 3Ci solution is the ability to successfully integrate a complex mixed-signal read channel with noisy digital circuitry in standard CMOS. The new 3Ci platform, currently sampling, employs Cirrus Logic's 0.25 micron, 450 Mbps(2) read channel (SH3360). In calendar Q2 2000, Cirrus Logic will be sampling its 550 Mbps(2) 3Ci solution, which will utilize its recently introduced, enhanced 0.25-micron read channel (SH3365).

Both of these new read channel cores are equipped with Cirrus Logic's new patented CC2 PRML algorithm. This proprietary algorithm adds redundant bits to the data stream on the fly, resulting in improved detector performance in the presence of certain types of transition noise common in high-density applications. Coupled with an advanced 16-state Viterbi detector, this patented technique offers drive manufacturers as much as a 15% capacity increase over Enhanced Partial Response Type 4 (EPR4) read channels.

High Capacity Architectures Require Advanced Hard Disk Controllers

The new 3Ci platform incorporates Cirrus Logic's latest hard disk controller technology. The integrated hard disk controller core combines an Ultra ATA interface with Cirrus Logic's patented error correction code (ECC). As the pioneers of ECC in disk drives and with more than 50 patents (25 issued and 25 pending), Cirrus Logic offers the industry's best detection and correction capabilities, resulting in fewer drive errors and the ability to support new high capacity drive architectures.

ARM Protects Code Investment

The new 3Ci platform also contains an ARM 7TDMI core processor, which is capable of handling both the system control as well as the servo control functions of today's disk drives. By adopting the ARM open core processor architecture Cirrus Logic is driving the transition from older proprietary technology to more innovative solutions that preserve drive manufacturers' multi-million dollar microcontroller code investment. Unlike proprietary microcontrollers and DSPs, an ARM-based chip solution gives manufacturers the flexibility to select from the more than 30 ARM licensees, rather than being locked to a single source or closed architecture.

Platform Flexibility

The new 3Ci platform can be customized to include customer intellectual property, such as an 80,000-gate hard disk controller, host interfaces such as IEEE 1394 as well as other ARM microprocessors or unique functions to serve emerging markets such as storage area networks, audio/video or MP3 audio.

World Class Support

As leaders in single-chip disk drive electronics solutions, Cirrus Logic offers disk drive manufacturers unparalleled applications and product support, delivering proven evaluation hardware and software as well as one of the industry's best system-level design and field applications teams.

Pricing & Availability

The second-generation, 0.25-micron, 450 Mbps 3Ci platform (SH8671) is sampling now in a 208-pin LQFP package and is priced at $12 each in quantities of 100,000 units.

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high performance analog and advanced mixed-signal chip solutions. The company's products, sold under its own name and the Crystal product brand, enable system-level applications in mass storage, audio and precision data conversion. Additional information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.