LuxSonor Semiconductors Announces KOALA—A Revolutionary Silicon Solution for Consumer CD/MP3/WMA Players

This is an innovative MP3/WMA decoder IC because it is specifically designed for the CD-based MP3/WMA market, more specifically for portable players, boomboxes and car audio solutions. We are taking on companies like Cirrus Logic and Sunplus, and we believe we have a better product with more on-chip integration, lower power consumption, lower pricing and system cost, and better performance. The interest in this chip has already been phenomenal and we think that the volume for CD-based MP3/WMA portables will be immense--there is a really good story here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editorial & Reader Contact:
Brian Hager, Marketing Manager
LuxSonor Semiconductors (510) 683-4668, ext. 246
bhager@luxsonor.com

LuxSonor Semiconductors Announces KOALA—A Revolutionary
Silicon Solution for Consumer CD/MP3/WMA Players

FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 6th, 2001--- LuxSonor Semiconductors, a leader in multimedia processors for consumer electronics, has announced the arrival of the Koala LS1000 Audio CD Multi-Format Decoder, the first dedicated CD-based MP3/Windows Media decoder on the market today. The Koala LS1000 is a revolutionary product for the audio CD decoder market because it integrates CD loader control, MP3/WMA audio decode, high-end audio special effects, internal SRAM and ROM, and audio DACs, while at the same time providing some impressive processing power for advanced features. And in addition to MP3 and WMA decoding capability, Koala includes features like a graphics equalizer, spectrum analyzer, 3D virtual surround, karaoke pitch shift, and more.

While other chip companies concentrate on decoders for FLASH-based MP3 players, LuxSonor is the first to offer a MP3/WMA solution specifically for CD-based applications like portable CD/MP3/WMA players, car audio CD/MP3/WMA players, as well as for boom boxes and conventional set top players. By utilizing advanced 0.18 micron technology, Koala is the perfect solution for portable products with low power requirements: high performance and powerful processing in a mere 100-pin package.

Koala represents a compelling solution for audio CD system manufacturers: a low cost IC tailored for CD-based MP3 and WMA decoding that enables system cost-down and a full feature set. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Koala is the versatility of its use. Low-end system manufacturers can capitalize on the low cost and superior level of integration to provide a system at an inexpensive price point to end consumers. High-end system manufacturers can simply add some external memory to create a high end product with electronic shock protection and custom software.

Koala is LuxSonors first product offering for the audio CD market, and we expect the interest to be very high," says Harold Liang, CEO of LuxSonor Semiconductors. From an engineering perspective, Koala is a home run: a superset of features and on-chip integration that our customers were requesting."

Power & Versatility
The Koala LS1000 is equipped with a 32-Bit RISC processor and a 16-Bit DSP—in effect, a dual processing configuration which enables the LS1000 to handle special audio effects and other advanced tasks. The integrated audio DAC and integrated CD loader control provide capabilities that are normally handled by external components in other designs. A large number of GPIOs are available for CD servo control, LCD control and key scan as well. Finally, Koalas advanced 0.18 micron technology and system clock shutdown for low power requirements make the LS1000 ideal for portable solutions.

Internal Memory
The LS1000s 80 Kbytes of internal SRAM and 256 Kbytes of internal ROM provide enough memory to build a low-end system. File system, user interface software, and MP3/WMA decoding can be completely handled from internal memory, a distinct advantage for manufacturers who are interested in decreasing system cost. However, Koala also provides external interfaces for EDO RAM/SDRAM and ROM/FLASH for electronic shock protection and customization of software.

The characteristics that really separate this chip from others is its level of integration and optimization for CD-based MP3 and Windows Media Audio products," explains Mark Rygh, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering for LuxSonor. The integrated memory and powerful processing capability ensure that Koala will be popular with both high-end and low-end manufacturers. The optimization for CD-based applications means that Koala excels where other FLASH optimized processors have fallen short."

LuxSonor provides system manufacturers with a full manufacturing kit of hardware and software tools with system software, manufacturing documentation, board schematics, and Gerber files. This enables manufacturers to reduce time-to-market and rapidly reach economies of scale. OEMs can also use the manufacturing kit to customize and enhance features for market differentiation. In sample quantities, the Koala is priced at US$10. For production pricing, please contact LuxSonor Semiconductors.

About LuxSonor Semiconductors, Inc.
LuxSonor is a fabless semiconductor company that provides leading-edge, IC-based, multimedia solutions to global manufacturers in the consumer and computer marketplace. LuxSonor is a privately held company with approximately 100 employees. Head offices are in Fremont, California with branch offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.
LuxSonor's intellectual property includes state-of-the-art RISC processors, digital signal processors, and video and audio compression and decompression technology. Its single-chip solutions are compliant with such global standards as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AC-3, Dolby Digital and other related standards. Its current product lines include IC's for CD-based MP3/WMA decoding, VideoCD, Super VideoCD, DVD, and IC's for Internet appliance products such as Internet Set Top Boxes, Internet TVs and Internet enabled DVD players (iDVD). For more information, please visit www.luxsonor.com.

Note:

·   All LuxSonor press releases can be found at www.luxsonor.com
·   Please contact Brian Hager (bhager@luxsonor.com or 510-683-4668, ext. 246)