Xilinx And CAST Announce Immediate Availability Of Digital Video Technology Cores

Introduction Of New Cores Further Strengthens Xilinx Penetration In DVT Applications

SAN JOSE, CA--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 26, 2002 -- Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX), and CAST, Inc., a Xilinx(R) AllianceCORE(TM) partner and leading IP provider, today announced the immediate availability of six new cores for Xilinx Virtex(R) and Spartan(R) FPGA families. The new cores target a wide range of digital video applications, such as desktop video editing, digital still cameras, set-top boxes, and digital televisions. Immediately available from CAST, the new cores include image compression, wavelet-based image and video CODECs, and digital signal processing.

"Digital video and programmable logic are the kind of perfectly matched solution our IP customers require," said Newton Abdalla vice president for general-purpose IP at CAST. "Xilinx FPGAs are excellent for quickly and cost-effectively implementing high-speed DSP algorithms such as these advanced wavelet and cosine transforms."

Cores and Applications

- DCT /IDCT (Discrete/Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform) -- three cores for image compression and decompression for applications such as printers, desktop video editing, digital still cameras and various progressive image transmissions systems.

- 2DWT (2D Discrete Wavelet Transform) -- three cores for forward and inverse row-column DWT, line-based programmable forward DWT, and block-based forward DWT. These wavelet-based image and video CODECs (JPEG2000, MPEG4) are suitable for printers, digital cameras, and scanners.

- DSP (Digital Signal Processor) -- optimized for video applications including: digital sound processing (adaptive filtering, FFT, other special sound effects), voice recognition, medical diagnostic equipment, computer peripherals.

"These new cores from CAST highlight our commitment to align ourselves with IP providers who are focused on new and emerging markets such as digital video technology," said Robert Bielby, senior director of strategic solutions marketing at Xilinx.

Xilinx eSP for Digital Video Applications

In addition to offering a wide range of silicon and software solutions that accelerate time-to-market in various applications, Xilinx offers the industry's only web portal dedicated to accelerating product development for digital convergence products. Xilinx eSP (www.xilinx.com/esp) now features a comprehensive resource dedicated to the development of digital video technologies. Solutions found on the site include reference designs, technology tutorials, system block diagrams, IP Cores and result from collaboration with a wide range of industry leaders.

Price and Availability

All cores are immediately available directly from CAST, Inc. under the terms of the SignOnce IP License, the industry's first multi-vendor common license for FPGA-based IP (www.xilinx.com/signonce).

About CAST, Inc.

CAST provides a broad line of general-purpose IP cores for FPGAs and other applications, including 8- and 16-bit processors, peripherals, buses, network interfaces, communications devices, multimedia operations, and encryption functions. Operating since 1993 with a focus on making IP practical and affordable for mainstream designers, the company has established a reputation for high-quality products, simple licensing, and responsive technical support. The company is located near New York City, and works with an international network of IP developers and distributors.

For more information visit www.cast-inc.com.

About Xilinx

Xilinx is the leading supplier of complete programmable logic solutions, including advanced integrated circuits, software design tools, predefined system functions delivered as cores, and unparalleled field engineering support. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Xilinx invented the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and fulfills more than half of the world demand for these devices today. Xilinx solutions enable customers to reduce significantly the time required to develop products for the computer, peripheral, telecommunications, networking, industrial control, instrumentation, aerospace, defense, and low-power portable and consumer markets. For more information, visit the Xilinx web site at www.xilinx.com.