Leuven, Belgium and Copenhagen, Denmark – 18 May, 2010 – Imec, certified TSMC Value Chain Aggregator (VCA), and DELTA Microelectronics, a leading provider of ASIC services, have concluded a cooperation agreement to provide customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with comprehensive TSMC-based turnkey and partial turnkey ASIC services.
This agreement combines the strengths of these two recognised players in the EMEA microelectronics industry. Imec as certified TSMC Value Chain Aggregator (VCA) provides Customer-Owned Tooling (COT) services including TSMC wafer supply, access to TSMC technology and production information, library licenses, design support, GDSII submission, and preparation for production. Building on these services DELTA offers ASIC related turnkey and partial turnkey solutions including prototyping, package development, assembly, test, qualifications, characterisation, failure analysis, logistics and supply chain management.
“This partnership is unique in Europe and provides customers with the most comprehensive and reliable path to successful ASIC development and production using TSMC technologies. It combines the strengths and long track record of imec and DELTA”, commented Per Ølund, Director of DELTA Microelectronics.

“With the combined strengths of both organisations, customers in EMEA can benefit from the experienced teams at imec and DELTA with local and same time zone support for their TSMC based ASIC projects. This will reduce risk and shorten development time and component production. The flexible business models of COT, turnkey and partial turnkey, offered by the partnership will enable customers to choose what is right for their ASIC projects”, said Carl Das, Director imec ASIC services.

About imec

Imec performs world-leading research in microelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China and Japan. Its staff of more than 1,750 people includes over 650 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2009, imec’s revenue (P&L) was 275 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be.

About DELTA

DELTA Microelectronics provides extensive services to the electronics industry. It undertakes full ASIC development projects from specifications to supply of volume components. DELTA Microelectronics is a division of Danish Electronics, Light Acoustics (DELTA) with headquarters in Hørsholm, Denmark. The organisation has a history of over 60 years in technology and 25 years in ASIC development and supply to a wide range of customers worldwide. DELTA operates with a flexible business model where it offers turnkey ASIC solutions or its individual services depending on the needs of its customers. These services include feasibility studies, digital and mixed signal design, test solutions, packaging, component production, logistics and supply chain management. DELTA also provides additional services including characterisation, qualification, and failure analysis. DELTA has full ISO9001 certification and is committed to delivery of quality services. DELTA Microelectronics is based in Denmark and the UK with service partners in Europe and Asia. Further information on DELTA can be found at www.delta.dk.

CONCORD, CA – MAY 20, 2010 – D-Tools, Inc., the worldwide leader in system integration software, recently announced the release of the latest update to its award-winning System Integrator software, SI 5.5. The service pack is now available for download and will be demonstrated at CEProLive! 2010 on June 17, a powerful new online dealer event that brings the magazine to life in a dynamic, virtual setting that simulates a conference center environment. 

D-Tools System Integrator is currently used by over 3,000 companies to streamline the design, estimation, and documentation processes associated with the installation and integration of low voltage systems. The SI5.2 release features productivity improvements and enhancements to help residential and commercial AV, Networking, and Security system integrators streamline the design, documentation, and integration of low voltage systems. 

“We’re extremely proud to release and demonstrate the new features and enhancements of SI5.5 at CEProLive!” said Adam Stone, President and CEO of D-Tools. “We have gladly assimilated the Web 2.0 movement into our business platform and we look forward to participating in this virtual tradeshow event to offer current and potential users a new and interactive tradeshow experience.” 

Says Deborah Smith, Program Director for CE Pro Live!, “Dealers will have a lot of fun visiting D-Tools in their virtual booth at CE Pro Live! to take a demo, learn about new features and ask questions in real time. It’s a new way to access important vendor product information and training – without spending time and money on travel!” 

About D-Tools, Inc. 

D-Tools, founded in 1998 and based in Concord, California, is a worldwide leader in accessible, highly accurate system design and documentation software. The company’s flagship product, System Integrator™ (SI), is a total design solution that utilizes Autodesk® AutoCAD and Microsoft® Visio for comprehensive system design, documentation and project management. D-Tools SI allows commercial integrators to streamline their business processes to increase overall revenues while reducing the time and costs associated with the installation and integration of low-voltage systems. Over 2,000 leading companies use D-Tools software to reduce time and costs and streamline the system integration process. D-Tools is the recipient of the Consumer Electronics Association’s Mark of Excellence Award (2004, 2005, 2006), National Systems Contractors Association and Sound and Video Contractor’s Innovations in Technology for Business Productivity Award (2004, 2005) and CE Pro’s High Impact Award for Design Software. 

Deggendorf, Germany, May 20, 2010   * * *   Three new modules from congatec have been added to the congatec-AG COM Express family and as with previous models offer the full scalability of a new CPU platform. They are 100% image compatible and have a common software driver, which facilitates integration into various systems. In all, there are a total of thirteen module variants now available for conga-CS45, conga-BS45 and conga-BM45.
The smallest version in this product family is the conga-CS45 COM Express Compact module with an Intel® Celeron® M 723 processor and  an Intel® GS45 chipset. With 1.2 GHz and a 1 MB L2 cache, this ultra low voltage processor model provides sufficient performance for a range of applications. It supports up to 4 GB DDR3 SO-DIMM memory. Due to its compact 95×95 mm size, the conga-CS45 is predestined for mobile applications such as ruggedised handhelds. In the laboratory with SiSoft Sandra in Dhrystone ALU mode it achieves 7342 MIPS with a power consumption of 10 watts.

A more up-market model is the conga-BS45 module (95 x 125 mm) with an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo SU9300 processor, 1.2 GHz, 3MB L2 cache and the Intel® GS45 chipset with support for up to 8 GB DDR3 Dual Channel memory. In a direct comparison with the conga-CS45 in the laboratory, it achieved 9740 MIPS with a TDP of 10 watts. The corresponding dual core application could, for example, be an automation control station with real-time visualisation in which hyper threading technology enables each core to run its own independent operating system.
The high-end module is the conga-BM45 (95 x 125 mm) with the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9400 processor, 2.53GHz, 6MB L2 cache and the Intel® GM45 chipset. The computer-on-module (COM) provides the required processor and graphics performance for performance-hungry gaming systems, for example, and can be equipped with up to 8 GB DDR3 Dual Channel memory. In the laboratory it achieved an impressive 23,366 MIPS with a TDP of 35 watts.
All COM Express modules in the “45” series offer great performance and considerable graphics flexibility. The two independent graphics pipelines can be used for 2×24 bit LVDS, SDVO, TV-Out, analogue VGA as well as new interfaces such as DisplayPort and HDMI. All COM Express modules are now available in series production volumes.

About congatec AG

congatec AG has its head office in Deggendorf in Bavaria. It is an innovative business that specializes in the development and marketing of industrial computer modules using the standard form factors Qseven, COM Express, XTX and ETX. With this focus and annual revenue of 26 million euros (2009), congatec is today a leading manufacturer in this field. The company’s products can be used in a variety of industries and applications, such as industrial automation, medical technology, automotive supplies, aerospace and transportation. Core knowledge and technical know-how  includes unique extended BIOS features as well as comprehensive driver and board support packages. Following the design-in phase, customers are given support via extensive product lifecycle management. The company’s products are manufactured by specialist service providers in accordance with modern quality standards. congatec currently has 80 employees and has branch offices in Plze? and Brno/Czech Republic, Taipei/Taiwan and San Diego/USA. More information is available on our website at www.congatec.com