December 1, 2003 --- AMIS and Europractice IC Service provide the framework for low cost development and implementation of designs using the latest high-voltage smart-power technology.

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is now able to offer access to its I3T80 high-voltage smart-power technology through CD-ROM based design kits. This offering complements the already established mixed-signal foundry service program of AMIS. Working in conjunction with Europractice IC service, AMIS is one of the first companies to offer its customers direct access to 0.35µm high-voltage smart-power design and manufacture.

Europractice IC Service, will provide further distribution of design kits, support during development, and production of resultant prototype and small batch quantities, coordinated by IMEC, under a new licence agreement with AMIS.

The I3T technology family allows system designers to reduce component count, save space and lower costs by integrating complex digital circuitry, embedded microprocessors and high-voltage functionality into a single IC. Suitable for automotive, medical, industrial and other high-voltage designs, the I3T80 technology enables the delivery of 0.35µm CMOS ‘Smart Power’ system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for voltages up to 80V.

Europractice will provide small businesses, start-up enterprises, fabless companies and universities, easy, economical access to designing and prototyping with I3T80 technology through distribution and support of design kits and its Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) approach. MPW significantly reduces costs by combining several designs from different customers on a single wafer. The fabrication costs of prototypes using this method can be as low as 10% of those for a full wafer run. Resultant parts – typically 20 pieces - can be delivered for validation either as naked dies, or as encapsulated devices. Europractice carries out extensive design rule and electrical rule checking of submitted designs to increase the yield of the delivered prototypes.

Commenting on the announcement, Ignace Borde, Director, AMIS Mixed-signal Foundry Services, Europe, said: “ This move makes AMIS the first company to offer 0.35µm high voltage technology to third parties through design kits and a supporting prototyping service. Coupled to this, the AMIS mixed-signal foundry service program supports larger volume manufacture once the design is proven.” He continued: “ I3T technology is a key element to enabling efficient and cost effective designs that combine high levels of digital integration with mixed analog and high-voltage structures. This announcement means that such technology is more readily available to smaller businesses or those with a fabless business model.”

“With the addition of the I3T technology to its portfolio, AMI Semiconductor customers around the world with needs for  prototyping and smaller volume now have access to the latest high-voltage technology”, said Dr. Carl Das, Director of the Europractice service at IMEC.  “In order to give our customers the opportunity to be introduced to I3T80, IMEC is organising a training course on the 11th and 12th of December.”

For additional information about the offered kits and prototyping services contact your local sales representative at www.amis.com/sales or at www.europractice.imec.be.

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Note to editors

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of customer-specific integrated mixed-signal products and structured digital products. AMIS is committed to providing customers with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market silicon solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centres located in the key markets of the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, please visit the AMIS Web site at www.amis.com.

Europractice IC Service was set up in 1995 as part of a project by the European Commission to stimulate use by European industry and universities of advanced IC technologies. The Europractice service, run by a consortium headed by IMEC, offers industry and academia a fully supported, affordable route to IC design, prototyping, and small and medium volume production. Annually, about 500 designs are prototyped and 130 small volume projects are manufactured at leading IC manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.europractice.imec.be.

IMEC (Inter-university Micro Electronics Center) was founded in 1984 and today is Europe’s largest independent research center in the field of microelectronics, nanotechnology, enabling design methods and technologies for ICT systems. IMEC's activities concentrate on the design technology for integrated information and communication systems; silicon process steps and modules, silicon processes; nanotechnology, microsystems, alternative devices and packaging; solar cells; and advanced training in microelectronics. IMEC is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has a staff of more than 1300 people including over 380 industrial residents and guest researchers. Its revenue in 2002 of more than 138Meuro was derived from agreements and contracts with the Flemish government, equipment and material suppliers and semiconductor and system-oriented companies worldwide, the EC, MEDEA+ and ESA. News from IMEC is located at www.imec.be.

Contact Details for Publication and Sales Leads:
AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA, Westerring 15, B-9700 Oudenaarde, Belgium
Tel: +32 55 33 22 11                                     Fax: +32 55 31 81 12
e-mail: europe_inquiry@amis.com

Europractice contact:

Carl Das

IMEC

Tel: +32 16 28 12 48

E-mail: Carl.Das@imec.be

Editorial Contact Information:
Wouter De Pesseroey                                               Tamera Drake
AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA                           AMI Semiconductor Inc.
Tel:  +32 55 33 28 85                                                Tel:  +1 208 234 6890
E-Mail: wouter_depesseroey@amis.com                   E-Mail: Tamera_Drake@amis.com

Katrien Marent

IMEC

Tel: +32 16 28 18 80

E-mail: Katrien.Marent@imec.be

Issued by:
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