Leopard Logic and TSMC enable configurable silicon platforms based on hyperblox FP embedded FPGA cores

CUPERTINO, CALIF AND SAN JOSE, CALIF. - November 22, 2002, -- Leopard Logic, Inc., a provider of embedded programmable logic solutions, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC), (TAIEX: 2330, NYSE: TSM), the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, today announced the availability of Leopard Logic’s HyperBlox™ FP embedded FPGA cores that are process-specific to TSMC’s 0.18-micron process technology.

HyperBlox FP cores are SRAM-based and do not require any special process options. The layouts are optimized for maximum performance and robust and reliable operation.

Leopard Logic’s suite of silicon-proven HyperBlox programmable logic cores enables the creation of configurable System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms that can be rapidly adopted to everchanging application needs simply by generating and downloading new configuration bitstreams. The combination of embedded FPGA cores with hardwired logic functions in a best-of-breed platform provides significant advantages in terms of performance, density, power and cost, over the use of discrete FPGAs.

“Leopard Logic’s technology enables our customers to keep their designs flexible and to increase the production volume for a given design by leveraging the same design into multiple applications. Embedded FPGA has the potential to become a basic building block of future SoCs, much like embedded memories and processors are today”, said Ed Chen, director of design and e-services marketing at TSMC.

Seamless integration of the HyperBlox cores with leading design flows and methodologies via industry-standard data exchange formats, is facilitated by Leopard Logic’s ToolBlox™ suite of development tools and design kits. No changes to the traditional ASIC design flow are required to take advantage of this innovative technology.

Leopard Logic’s embedded FPGA cores are now part of TSMC’s IP Alliance Program, which offers the industry's largest catalog of third party, silicon-verified, production proven foundry specific intellectual property. Vendor cores are validated in TSMC silicon to ensure the best possible design experience, easiest design reuse and the fastest integration into the overall design system. TSMC’s "best of class" third party IP offerings include system-level cores that provide high-performance functions.

All cores in the TSMC catalog are created, directly sold and directly supported by the individual IP vendor to better support each customer's particular design and business model. Each TSMC process-proven IP core complies with TSMC design rules and models.

"Partnering with TSMC as the leading independent foundry is a major milestone in Leopard Logic's strategy to proliferate our FPGA cores to fabless and fab-lite semiconductor companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). We see significant customer interest in TSMC's 0.18 and 0.13 micron process technologies and we are working on the silicon qualification for our 0.13 micron cores," commented Stefan Tamme, Leopard Logic's vice president of sales and marketing.

About TSMC
TSMC is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing the industry's leading process technology and the foundry industry's largest portfolio of process-proven library, IP, design tools and reference flows. The company has one advanced 300mm wafer fab in production and one under construction, in addition to six eight-inch fabs and one six-inch wafer fabs. TSMC also has substantial capacity commitments at two joint ventures fabs (Vanguard and SSMC) and at its wholly-owned subsidiary, WaferTech. In early 2001, TSMC became the first IC manufacturer to announce a 90-nanometer technology alignment program with its customers. TSMC's corporate headquarters are in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. For more information about TSMC please go to www.tsmc.com.

About Leopard Logic, Inc.
Leopard Logic™ provides embedded programmable logic solutions that increase performance and flexibility while reducing risk and system costs for System -on-Chip devices. Used to create next generation programmable device platforms, Leopard Logic's HyperBlox™ configurable logic cores are ideally suited for DSP or packet processing intensive applications, targeting markets like communications and digital consumer. The cores are silicon proven in leading manufacturing processes from TSMC and are delivered with a comprehensive integration package, including a suite of optimized software tools, enabling rapid integration with industry standard design flows and third party EDA tools. For more information visit www.leopardlogic.com

Leopard Logic, HyperBlox, ToolBlox and the Leopard Logic Logo are trademarks of Leopard Logic, Inc. All other company and/or product names are the trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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