Amino Communications has unveiled the cost reduction roadmap for licensees of its IntAct technology

Combining IntAct with SoC technology allows licensees to go to market in a fraction of the traditional time yet still gain the cost reduction benefits when they need high volume production. Amino claims its PCB-to-silicon migration route offers the company's licensees up to 50% cost reduction a year for products generated from the company's network appliance designs (such as set-top boxes, gateways, seat-back entertainment systems and e-commerce terminals).

This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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It also says its proven approach to electronic product design enables networked, multimedia products to be produced far quicker and more cost effectively than using traditional approaches.

Depending on project complexity, customers typically deploy first units within 4-6 months of project commencement.

The same architecture is provided in the highly integrated SoC format but with the advantage of perhaps one to two years of market presence, over and above that of competitors and with far less risk.

The methodology brings together best-of-breed modular IP so manufacturers can start production with conventional, low risk circuit board level solutions.

Licensees then enjoy dramatic cost savings as they migrate to SoC without the time-to-market delays usually incurred with conventional SoC methodology.

The logical architecture of the product can remain unchanged, reducing risk and avoiding system re-integration costs.

IntAct provides a serial, ATM-like datalink that connects intelligent, pre-engineered IP modules creating flexible, high performance distributed systems.

IntAct's unique architecture is just as applicable for connecting IP blocks inside a chip as it is for joining circuit boards.

An SoC design would expose an IntAct connection onto which another SoC or microprocessor can be added, enabling the chip to be easily upgraded and enhanced.

'The high NRE cost for SoCs means that companies are reluctant to go for SoCs in case requirements change.

But IntAct changes all that, giving our licensees the flexibility to add new silicon at a later date', commented Martyn Gilbert, CEO of Amino Communications.

'This revolutionary model changes the face of the traditional product life-cycle and the rate of development for emergent markets'.