聯華電子與矽智財供應商 Artisan Components 公司今日 (29日) 宣佈雙方的長期合作關係將專注於發展用在 0.13 微米晶片設計，以 PCI-SIGR 所提出的 PCI Express 為架構的 PHY 矽智財核心，預計將於今年第四季推出。PCI-SIGR (PCI Special Interest Group) 擁有及管理 PCI 的開放性工業標準規格。

聯電總經理胡國強博士表示：我們樂意能與 Artisan 公司在 0.13 微米 PCI-Express PHY 核心的矽智財開發共同合作。開放性架構的 PCI Express 將幫助 IC 設計工程師輕易的整合此核心於他們的 0.13 微米產品設計中。此產品將是我們客戶，特別是對高效能及設計彈性兼具需求之客戶的重要資產。

Artisan 公司副總經理 Callan Carpenter 表示：聯電一直是 Artisan 卓越的晶圓專工夥伴，我們也很高興能與聯電合作發展 PCI-Express PHY。PHY 的模組化架構可廣泛的應用於對高性能、低成本及跨製程設計極具需求的各項電腦及通訊產品。

The PCI-Express 2.5Gbps PHY targets UMC's 0.13-micron process technology. The modular 8-lane PCI Express 2.5Gbps PHY is designed to be a general-purpose I/O interconnect for "in-the-box" applications. Its architecture provides a connectivity solution for adapter cards, attach points for graphics I/Os as well as an I/O attach point for other interconnects like 1394b, USB 2.0, Infiniband and Ethernet. The PCI Express PHY creates a complete serial link including mux/demux, 8b/10b encode/decode and clock recovery circuitry which is compliant with the PCI Express Specification. The newly introduced PCI-Express PHY IP core is slated for availability to customers in the fourth quarter of 2003.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the availability of Artisan's PCI Express PHY IP core in the fourth quarter of 2003 and the characteristics of such product. Actual results may differ materially. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including whether there will be technical or other difficulties that delay or prevent the availability of Artisan's PCI Express PHY IP core, technical or other difficulties inherent in the design and manufacture of semiconductors, and market acceptance of Artisan's PCI Express PHY IP core. We refer you also to the documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the section entitled "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the Company's annual report on form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q. Artisan disclaims any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release as a result of financial, business or any other developments occurring after the date of the release.

Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about future outsourcing, wafer capacity, technologies, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks.

Artisan Components, Inc. is a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP) components for the design and manufacture of complex system-on-a-chip integrated circuits. Artisan's products include embedded memory, standard cell, input/output, analog, mixed-signal and communications components, which are designed to achieve the best combination of performance, density, power and yield for a given manufacturing process. Artisan has licensed its IP components to over 1,000 companies involved in integrated circuit design. Artisan is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. More information about Artisan Components, including free library access can be found at: http://www.artisan.com

Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of Artisan Components, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property for their respective owners.