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TimeLab Unveils Groundbreaking Digital Timing Solution for Notebook and High-Performance Desktop PCs

Posted on: Monday, 15 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

ANDOVER, Mass., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- TimeLab Corporation, a leading innovator in system timing circuits, announced today the first in a new family of digital timing products. Using a proprietary technology designed to replace traditional analog Phase-Locked Loop (PLL)-based chips and crystals, TimeLab's Timing Processor Units (TPUs) integrate multiple independent synthesizers on a single chip to allow designers to precisely control and dynamically adjust clock frequencies to each subsystem's requirements without interrupting CPU execution. This revolutionary capability offers notebook and high-performance desktop PC designers a new opportunity to optimize system power and performance, reduce heat generation and EMI, and drive down system cost.

"Providing designers with precise control over system frequencies unleashes tremendous system-level benefits that just aren't possible with PLL- based timing chips due to their inherent instability and inflexibility," said Carlos Bielicki, TimeLab President and CEO. "By moving system clocking from the analog to the digital domain, our TPU and software offers designers the ability to precisely and independently control clock frequencies for PC peripherals to extend battery life or attain peak system performance. We have demonstrated that this capability cuts at least 30% of the silicon power budget in PCs and provides the highest observed overclocking performance."

Precise Frequency Control

Timelab's TotalClock solution combines a highly integrated TPU with associated timing control software. The centerpiece of this new technology is a free-running ring oscillator. While an analog PLL controls an oscillator's operating frequency, TotalClock TPUs measure the operating frequency of the oscillator and uses the measurement to create precise digital waveforms.

Fabricated in a highly cost-effective, mainstream CMOS process, the TotalClock TPU integrates multiple high resolution, digital waveform synthesizers on a single chip to produce independently controlled clock outputs. Unlike traditional PLL-based designs, these synthesizers can operate at frequencies in excess of 400 MHz with resolution as fine as 1 kHz. Moreover, they can be precisely adjusted to any new frequency in under a microsecond.

The TotalClock solution enables system designers to synchronize the slewing of multiple clocks across multiple frequencies simultaneously to reduce power consumption and increase overclocking performance. The same precision is applied to spread spectrum implementations which help minimize EMI and eliminate overshoot and undershoot. This new product family exceeds PC industry timing standards, providing the clock frequencies required for PCI Express, CPU, SATA (Serial ATA), PCI, USB, Ethernet and Audio/Video interfaces.

TimeLab's technology is a new approach to system timing that offers dramatic benefits in the design of both notebook and desktop PCs. Digital precision and software optimization of clock frequency reduces power consumption and extends battery life in portable systems. Improved overclocking and reduced EMI maximizes system performance in desktop systems. Similarly, more precise frequency control minimizes heat generation and improves system operation and reliability.

"TimeLab's TotalClock TPUs and software are the most significant innovations in PC clocking that I've seen in a long time," said Nelson Lee, Product Marketing Director at Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. "TimeLab's TotalClock solution provides a major step toward achieving All-Day Mobile Computing."

Price and Availability

TimeLab's TotalClock TPU is currently sampling. The TLC2801 for desktops will sell for less than $2.50 in 10K quantities, while the TLC2811 for notebooks will sell for less than $3.50 in 10K quantities.

About TimeLab Corporation

Founded in 2001, Timelab's mission is to develop and supply innovative semiconductor and software solutions that provide unprecedented system level benefits by solving timing and synchronization problems. TimeLab's products offer a number of major benefits including extended battery life, increased performance, lower EMI, and reduced bill-of-materials costs.

NOTE: All other brand and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

TimeLab Corporation

CONTACT: Tom Riha of TimeLab Corporation, +1-978-794-6687, ortriha@timelabcorp.com; or Matthew Quint of Quint Public Relations,+1-650-599-9450, or mquint@quintpr.com, for TimeLab

Web site: http://www.timelabcorp.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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