TEXT-Israel's Tower Semi to make chips for QuickLogic
(The following was issued by Israel's Tower Semiconductor Ltd (TSEM.O) (TSEM.TA)):
June 30 - QuickLogic® Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK), the lowest power programmable solutions leader, and Tower Semiconductor Ltd (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), an independent specialty foundry, announced today that they entered into an agreement to manufacture volume production of QuickLogic's next-generation ArcticLink II VX solution platforms, expected to start during Q3 2008.
These products are manufactured at Tower's advanced Fab2.
With low power and high performance, the solution platforms enable fast time-to-market, longer time in market, efficient product development through platform designs, dramatically improved visual experience for mobile internet and streaming video applications, small form factor, energy efficiency and low total cost of ownership.
"We are happy that QuickLogic's lead in low power programmable solutions is to be further strengthened through these new products," said Dr. Itzhak Edrei, senior vice president for worldwide product lines and sales at Tower Semiconductor Ltd. "QuickLogic's high quality of products is to be complemented by Tower's excellence in engineering and manufacturing execution, and we expect our volumes to reflect the rapid growth path forecasted for this market segment."
The newest members of the ArcticLink II family of solution platforms feature QuickLogic's proprietary Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) technology.
The proprietary VEE technology provides high quality contrast optimization and more effective management and control of LCD backlight power for a wide range of mobile consumer and prosumer devices.
It specifically addresses the mobile industry's need to provide consumers with a TV-quality viewing experience while extending battery life at the same time.
"QuickLogic has a long-standing relationship with Tower Semiconductor," says Terry Barrette, vice president of operations for QuickLogic. "Tower's world-class manufacturing process geometries and low power technology ensures that QuickLogic will reach optimal pricing targets, resulting in savings that can be passed down to our OEMs and ODMs, as well as longer battery life for their products."
