Sidense OTP Helps Novatek Provide Customers with Cost-Effective and Reliable Display Drivers

Sidense 1T-OTP macros chosen by Novatek for use in mobile display driver ICs

Ottawa, Canada – November 12, 2013 – Sidense Corp., a leading developer of Logic Non-Volatile Memory (LNVM) OTP IP cores, today announced that Novatek Microelectronics Corp. has selected Sidense's 1T-Fuse™-based 1T-OTP memory IP for its display driver ICs for flat-panel displays. Novatek's decision to use Sidense's high-voltage SLP NVM macros was based on several compelling features, including very low power consumption, high reliability and small OTP macro footprint.

Novatek is using Sidense 32Kbit 1T-OTP macros in both 55eHVand 90eHV process variants for flat panel display controller products targeting a wide range of consumer devices, with some portions of the memory programmed at the factory and others by the customer. These processes are designed for ICs targeting both small displays, such as mobile phones and digital cameras, up to large displays, such as televisions and monitors.

"As a leading supplier of display driver ICs, our products must be highly integrated and exhibit low power dissipation, high reliability and have low manufacturing cost," said Jeff Hsu,Novatek's Vice President. "We selected Sidense NVM because their OTP has all these features, and they had proven macros at the process nodes that we needed. This was the right decision, as we were able to quickly incorporate the Sidense 32Kbit 1T-OTP macros into our designs and get three chips – two 90eHVand one 55eHV – into volume production."

"Sidense SLP macros are being used by many of our customers in applications that require a proven and cost-effective OTP in a variety of mobile, media processing, power management and wireless applications," added Tom Schild, Sidense VP of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. "We are proud to supply companies such as Novatek with our secure and reliable 1T-OTP memory for their high-performance LCD display driver products."

About SLP

Sidense SLP macros are available in a wide range of off-the-shelf configurations, supporting small densities of 256 bits for configuration and trim applications up to 256 Kbits per macro for code storage and multiple NVM uses. SLP macros at 180nm are available for a wide range of process variants, including BCD and high-voltage processes, from several top-tier semiconductor foundries. 180nm BCD processes are fully qualified for -40ºC to 150°C read and field-programmable operations to support applications such as automotive electronics that require reliable operation and long-life data retention in high-temperature environments. SLP macros in the 55eHV (55nm) and 90eHV (90nm) high-voltage processes, which target flat panel displays and other consumer and industrial applications, are currently in qualification.

About Sidense Corp.

Sidense Corp. provides very dense, highly reliable and secure non-volatile one-time programmable (OTP) Logic Non-Volatile Memory (LNVM) IP for use in standard-logic CMOS processes. The Company, with over 115 patents granted or pending, licenses OTP memory IP based on its innovative one-transistor 1T-Fuse™bit cell, which does not require extra masks or process steps to manufacture. Sidense 1T-OTP macros provide a better field-programmable, reliable and cost-effective solution than flash, mask ROM, eFuse and other embedded and off-chip NVM technologies for many code storage, encryption key, analog trimming and device configuration uses.

Over 110 companies, including many of the top fabless semiconductor manufacturers and IDMs, have adopted Sidense 1T-OTP as their NVM solution for more than 350 designs. Customers are realizing outstanding savings in solution cost and power consumption along with better security and reliability for applications ranging from mobile and consumer devices to high-temperature, high-reliability automotive and industrial electronics. The IP is offered at and supported by all top-tier semiconductor foundries and selected IDMs. Sidense is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with sales offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sidense.com.

About Novatek

Novatek Microelectronics Corp., established in 1997 with its headquarters in Hsinchu Science Park, is the primary supplier of display driver ICs for TFT LCD displays in the world. It is ranked as the world's 11th largest fabless design house with total sales revenue of over 1B US dollars in 2012. Novatek (TSE: 3034) is a public company at the Taiwan Stock Exchange main board since 2002. To learn more about Novatek, please visit www.novatek.com.tw