News & Events
Xicor® Introduces the World's Fastest Analog Front End For Flat Panel Matrix Displays

-- New Family of AFEs Operate Up to 275 MSPS and Deliver Superior High-Resolution Images

MILPITAS, California – September 18, 2003 – Xicor, Inc. (Nasdaq: XICO), a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, today announced the introduction of the X98000 family of new high speed analog front ends (AFEs) for high-resolution flat-panel monitors, LCD projectors and high definition televisions (HDTV). The X98027 operates up to 275 MSPS and is the fastest AFE available. The X98000 family includes four additional products operating at frequencies of 240 MSPS, 210 MSPS, 170 MSPS and 140 MSPS.

Each product in Xicor’s new family of AFEs has three independent 8-bit channels to capture the red, green and blue (RGB) or YPbPr component video signals sent from personal computers, workstations, DVD players or video set-top boxes. The devices combine high performance, low noise signal processing with a low jitter digital phase-locked loop to produce ultra-sharp high- resolution images.

The three AFE channels have high linearity and matching for superior grayscale performance. A very high input bandwidth is provided for ultra sharp images even at QXGA pixel rates. Additional peaking control can restore image sharpness when long cable lengths are used. An innovative automatic black level compensation (ABLC) circuit eliminates offset errors due to mismatch and drift. The internal digital phase locked loop (DPLL) not only provides lower clock jitter, it also has 64 phase steps with high linearity in comparison to a maximum of 32 phase steps in competitive products. The X98000 family is also very easy to program and has low sensitivity to PC board noise.

"The X98000 family offers a new level of video performance for matrix display products," stated Fred Hamilton, director of technical marketing for Xicor's display products. "The X98027 is our flagship product targeted at high-resolution QXGA (2048 x 1536) displays. It is the fastest and best performing AFE for flat panel applications available today. Our extremely accurate signal path and DPLL architecture eliminate the trade-offs and complexity of previous solutions to provide superior images and improved video quality for high-resolution monitors, projectors and televisions.

The X98027 supports QXGA resolution up to a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The X98024 supports WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200), the X98021 supports UXGA (1600 x 1200), the X98017 supports WSXGA resolution (1536 x 1024) and the X98014 supports SXGA resolution (1280 x 1024) and all lower resolutions. Xicor’s wide range of speed alternatives in AFE products for flat panel matrix displays provides customers the ability to achieve the best price and performance solution for a given application.

The X98027 will be demonstrated at the Computex Trade Show in Taipei, September 22-26. Samples are available now with production scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2003. Pricing for X98014 starts at $9.00 in 1,000 piece quantities.

Summary of Features: X98027 Analog Front End

• 275 MSPS maximum conversion rate
• Low clock jitter (250 ps p-p at 275 MSPS)
• 64 interpixel sampling positions
• Programmable analog input bandwidth from 100 MHz to 780 MHz
• Automatic black level compensation (ABLC) for continuous offset calibration
• 1.4 Vp-p analog input range
• 2 channel input multiplexer
• RGB and YUV 4:2:2 output formats
• 8-bit gain and 10-bit offset control
• AC or DC coupling
• CSYNC and SOG support
• Trilevel Sync detection
• Single 3.3 V power supply, internal 1.8 V regulation

Xicor Corporate Information
Xicor designs, develops and markets high performance analog mixed-signal integrated circuits used in communications, computing, networking and industrial applications. Xicor’s Mixed-Signal Products include data conversion products, power management integrated circuits, and application specific standard products and interface devices. Xicor’s programmable analog mixed-signal components regulate, control, convert and manage various voltages and currents with a serial interface and internal EEPROM. Xicor product, corporate and financial information are readily available on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com

Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks may include the impact of competing products and pricing, timely design acceptance by our customers, timely ability to ramp new products into volume production, industry wide shifts in supply and demand for semiconductor products, and other risks detailed from time to time in Xicor's SEC filings. "Xicor" is a registered trademark and “XDCP” is a trademark belonging to Xicor Inc.
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