Cheertek Licenses MIPS32 4KEc Core for Next Generation Set-Top Box SoCs

MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications, announced today that Taiwan-based IC design firm Cheertek, Inc. has licensed the MIPS32® 4KEc® processor core and MIPS Dolby® Digital AC3 and Dolby Prologic II Audio Decoder. Cheertek, a leading supplier of system-level solutions for digital consumer entertainment applications, is leveraging the MIPS architecture and robust software Ecosystem to develop chips for advanced set-top boxes that will expand its presence in global markets.

After evaluating competing products, Cheertek chose the MIPS® architecture for its performance, cost and time-to-market advantages. The synthesizable 4KEc core, a member of the MIPS32 4KE™ core family, gives licensees the flexibility to optimize applications for performance, size or power consumption. The 4KE core family delivers 1.53 DMIPS/MHz performance in an area as small as 1.0 mm2 in a 0.13-micron TSMC process. Licensees of the 4KEc core are broadly supported by a robust software Ecosystem of operating systems, middleware, algorithms and tools for embedded applications such as digital set-top boxes, a market in which the MIPS architecture is the de facto standard.

Cheertek will leverage this performance to implement audio algorithms on the RISC-processor, rather than on a DSP, enabling the company to accelerate development, lower overall system costs, and reduce or eliminate royalty payments to DSP vendors. The company can further reduce costs by developing and maintaining a single audio subsystem across multiple products. The MIPS Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby Prologic II Audio Decoders are two of several in the MIPS Soft Audio Suite, a comprehensive set of audio algorithms optimized for MIPS32 processors in consumer applications.

“Software is one of the biggest hurdles in cost-effective system development. By choosing MIPS, the number one architecture in the set-top box market, we give our customers access to an extensive software Ecosystem that will enable them to cut costs while rapidly developing highly differentiated products,” said Jack Chang, CEO of Cheertek.

“Few markets are as competitive as the cost-sensitive consumer electronics arena. Cheertek’s expertise in cost-effective solutions, together with the MIPS architecture's superior performance and broad industry support, will offer system manufacturers the ability to compete more effectively,” said Brad Holtzinger, vice president of worldwide sales at MIPS Technologies. “We look forward to working with Cheertek to strengthen our leadership roles in the design of advanced set-top boxes.”

About Cheertek
Cheertek, Inc. is a leading supplier of high-performance, feature-rich chips for the rapidly growing STB and digital consumer entertainment markets. The company provides total system-level solutions that enable customers to shorten time to mass production. Cheertek Inc., headquartered in Hsinchu Industrial Park, Taiwan, has R&D, sales and technical support offices in Taiwan and in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China. For more information, please visit www.cheertek.com.tw.

About MIPS Technologies
MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products. The company is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at +1 (650) 567-5000 or www.mips.com.