AgigA Tech Unveils Family of Battery-Free Energy Modules For Critical Data Back-Up During Power Loss

Cypress Subsidiary’s PowerGEM™ Modules Provide Safe, “Green” Power Source For AGIGARAM™ Non-Volatile Systems

POWAY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgigA Tech Inc., a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:CY), today introduced a new battery-free intelligent power subsystem that prevents the loss of critical data due to a power interruption. The PowerGEM™ (Green Energy Module) power subsystem uses ultracapacitors (or “ultracaps”) to provide temporary power in the event of a system power loss.

“AgigA Tech’s unique ultracap-based PowerGEM modules enable system designers to avoid the many drawbacks of battery-backed memory solutions.”

The PowerGEM modules allow designers to avoid problems of battery-powered energy sources, including environmental impact, increased design complexity, maintenance and conditioning, short operating life, and a high total cost of ownership. PowerGEM, when paired with an AGIGARAM™ memory module, provides a complete secure and reliable non-volatile memory subsystem for mission critical data back-up.

In a related announcement, AgigA Tech recently introduced the industry’s highest-speed and highest-density DDR3 solutions, expanding the AGIGARAM family. The solutions range from 1 GB to 8 GB.

“Batteries are harmful to the environment and require maintenance and conditioning, which makes the total cost of ownership high,” said Ron Sartore, CEO of AgigA Tech. “AgigA Tech’s unique ultracap-based PowerGEM modules enable system designers to avoid the many drawbacks of battery-backed memory solutions.”

When used as a write cache in enterprise-class applications, AGIGARAM provides a performance-boosting building block while guarding against power failures and data loss. In addition to providing power, PowerGEM manages the charging/discharging, cycling, wear-monitoring and other module details to insure long life and high reliability. The entire AGIGARAM Non-Volatile System (NVS) implements the AGIGASAFE™ control protocol, a simple-to-use host-controlled I²C programming interface developed by AgigA Tech that ensures safe, reliable, secure operation at the system level. This protocol allows fine control over internal system functions such as managing the NAND Flash while providing precise health monitoring and tracking. The complex system-readiness system has also been reduced to a single “Good To Go” (or GTG) signal. For more information on AgigA Tech products visit www.agigatech.com.

AgigA Tech will present the PowerGEM and AGIGARAM solutions in booth #219 at the Flash Memory Summit at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California from August 17-19. Lane Hauck, a member of the technical staff at AgigA Tech will present a paper entitled “Reliable Flash-Backed Cache Using SuperCaps” as part of Forum F1A on Tuesday, August 17 at 11:05 a.m. PDT.

AgigA Tech has established a reliability test lab in Chengdu, China and has been continuously testing ultracaps for almost three years, amassing a significant amount of test data that is unmatched in the industry. The test lab continues to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. AgigA Tech has tested the ultracap offerings of multiple manufacturers, and at extended operating temperatures and voltages. Based on this extensive test data, AgigA Tech has selected the most reliable ultracap products to incorporate into the PowerGEM modules.

Availability and Photo

The AGIGA900x family of PowerGEM modules are currently production ready with samples available to qualified customers. A high-resolution photo of a PowerGEM device is available at www.cypress.com/go/pr/photo/powergem.

About AgigA Tech, Inc.

AgigA Tech is an industry pioneer in high-speed, high-density, battery-free non-volatile RAM. The AGIGARAM™ product family merges NAND Flash, DRAM and an ultracapacitor power source into a highly reliable non-volatile memory system. The systems target enterprise-class and embedded system equipment to guard against power failure and loss of critical data. Headquartered in Poway, California with a product development and test center in Chengdu, China, AgigA Tech began its R&D operations in early 2007 under Simtek (Nasdaq: SMTK) and was formally established as an independent subsidiary in February 2008. It became a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor (Nasdaq: CY), with the Cypress acquisition of Simtek in September 2008. The company’s products are available worldwide through the Cypress sales force and its distributor partners. More information on the company is available at www.agigatech.com.

About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC® programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC® solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense® touch sensing and TrueTouch™ solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge® solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.

AGIGA, AGIGARAM and PowerGEM are trademarks of AGIGA Tech, Inc. Cypress, the Cypress logo, PSoC, CapSense, PowerPSoC, and West Bridge are registered trademarks and TrueTouch is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.