News & Events
Xicor Unveils Thor™ Architecture
--Innovative architecture enables highly accurate open loop control~--Ideal for fiber optic transceivers, microwave amplifiers and PLL control
MILPITAS, California April 15, 2002 Xicor, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS: XICO) today unveiled THOR, a new architecture for high performance open loop control. This innovative architecture allows systems designers to easily implement arbitrary "nth order" error correction to implement true zero error systems. Errors related to time, temperature or other system level effects can be corrected in manufacturing, or adaptively, while the system is in operation.
The THOR architecture features an 8-bit analog to digital converter input stage that can sample analog signals from external sources, or from either an on-chip programmable voltage reference or on-chip temperature sensor. Designers can implement an arbitrary compensation curve that is stored in a 2176-bit on-chip look-up table. This digitized input signal is then multiplied by information stored in the look-up table; the result is then used to control either of two programmable current source outputs.
The look-up table programming, and selection of analog input source, is done digitally via an industry standard two-wire bus. This facilitates control of open loop analog functions via low cost microcontrollers.
The first product utilizing the THOR architecture, the X9530, is targeted at metropolitan area networks (MANs) and 10GE (XENPAK) local area networks (LANs), where the look-up table will be used to store temperature compensation curves. Dell Oro estimates that 46.5 million fiber optic transceivers will be sold into fiber optic-based networks in 2003, growing to 85.6 million in 2005. The X9530 is expected to start early sampling to key customers in the second quarter of 2002 and will have an average selling price of between $2.00 and $4.00. The typical LAN/MAN module will require 2-4 X9530-like products.
Other significant applications will be PIN diode biasing in microwave communications systems, PWM control in DC motors, and PLL control in industrial servo control systems.
"The THOR architecture is a significant breakthrough in open loop control," stated Mike Levis, vice president of marketing at Xicor. "It enables true zero error systems, and is only possible through the innovative use of Xicor's nonvolatile technology."
About Xicor
Xicor designs, develops, and markets a wide variety of programmable mixed-signal integrated circuits used in networking, computing, communication and industrial applications. The Company's products include digitally controlled potentiometers and system management ICs that allow system designers to digitally control analog functions in signal processing, microprocessor monitoring and power management. Xicor product, corporate and financial information is 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.
