TO ALL: I am a first time poster but have been 'lurking' since post 3200. and I've read every post. I thank Curlton DSmith Maxwell The Specialist Tideglider Steve A Billy Scott MCI PA investor jess etc etc for helping me 'keep the faith' I am long 3K at 29 and I intend to stay around until at least 2001. The following article I don't understand too well and would appreciate what you all think its impact is on our company. It doesn't mention any of the wafer/stepper companies that we sell to:Monday October 27 7:01 AM EST
Company Press Release
Xilinx, UMC First to Deliver Programmable Logic Using 0.25 Micron
Technology
Leading process technology delivers world's highest complexity logic
device in FPGA
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 1997--Leading the logic
industry into the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes,
Xilinx, Inc., (NASDAQ:XLNX) in partnership with United Microelectronics
Corporation (UMC) announced the first FPGA product built with
0.25-micron process technology.
This leading-edge technology is the basis of a new Xilinx FPGA family
whose initial device incorporates 25 million transistors in a single
piece of silicon--more than three times that of today's highest
performance microprocessors, such as the Intel Pentium II with 7.5
million transistors. UMC and Xilinx are jointly developing 0.25-micron
FPGA technology with expected volume production in January 1998.
''As the first dedicated foundry to market with 0.25-micron technology,
we lead the industry in this next generation of processing. The UMC 0.25
micron CMOS process with dual-gate oxide and five layer metal is a very
demanding and rugged technology that will enable end products with
better integrity, yields, quality, and performance,'' stated Don Brooks,
UMC board member. ''Furthermore, UMC offers Xilinx and other customers
additional advanced technology, including low-voltage and mixed signal
capability. With our progress in 0.18 micron technology, we will
continue our leadership in process introductions.''
''Our close partnerships with industry-leading manufacturing partners
has directly aided our delivery of advanced processes,'' said Wim
Roelandts, Xilinx president and chief executive officer. ''Furthermore,
it's more than just having access to industry-leading technology in
order to deliver on this process. Our unique methods for rapid
deployment of new architectures on new processes allows us to bring
better products to market faster and, in turn, bolster the success of
our customers.''
Made possible through partnerships
For its 0.25-micron product development, Xilinx partners with suppliers
such as Cadence Inc., San Jose; DuPont Photomasks Inc., Round Rock,
Texas; and United Microelectronics Corp., Taiwan.
''With 25 million transistors on an FPGA, Xilinx is providing a dramatic
increase in capability for its customers,'' said Bill Portelli, vice
president and general manager, Cadence Custom IC Business Unit. ''Xilinx
turned to Vampire, Cadence's state-of-the-art hierarchical physical
verification tool, in order to verify the correctness of the world's
most complex FPGA device. First pass working silicon is a testament to
excellent IC design, a great tool, and impressive teamwork between
Xilinx and Cadence on this project.'' Xilinx partner, DuPont Photomasks,
Inc. (NASDAQ:DPMI), more commonly referred to as DPI, met the challenge
of developing a set of photomasks that would unite the Xilinx design
specifications with UMC's manufacturing process technology. The
extraordinary density of the larger Xilinx FPGA die required DPI's ex
tensive technical expertise to meet the demanding 0.25-micron design and
manufacturing specifications. DPI also drew on the strengths of its
global network to manufacture the photomasks, with data collection and
coordination occurring in Santa Clara, Calif., and actual production
taking place in its Ichon, Korea, facility.
Xilinx also announced today the availability of the industry's first
FPGA products based on 0.25-micron process, the XC4000XV FPGA family.
(Xilinx Announces Industry's First Half-Million-Gate FPGA Family).
Samples of the first product in this new family, the XC40125XV -- the
industry's largest FPGA device -- are available now. Production
shipments will begin in January 1998.
About UMC
Based in Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan, UMC is Taiwan's first private sector
manufacturer of integrated circuits. UMC operates two wafer fabs in the
Science-Based Industrial Park in Hsin-Chu City. UMC is also involved in
three joint ventures including United Semiconductor Corp. (USC), United
Integrated Circuits Corp (UICC) and United Silicon Inc. (USIC).
If it doesn't impact Cymer my apologies in advance.
Keep the Faith!
Craig P
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