Knowledge*on Inc. and Agilent Technologies Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop an InGaP/GaAs HBT Design Kit Based On The Advanced Design System

July 23, 2001

Iksan, Korea. Knowledge*on Inc., a world-class pioneer in the 6 inch GaAs HBT pure-play foundry business, will enter into a strategic partnership with Agilent Technologies to develop an Advanced Design System (ADS) based design kit. This will provide MMIC and RFIC designers with easy access to Knowledge*on's state-of-the-art 6" InGaP/GaAs HBT Foundry Process.

As ADS is one of world's most popular EDA tools for RFIC and MMIC designs and GaAs process technology is still the leader in power and noise performance, both companies believe that this partnership will bring about an acceleration in growth of the GaAs pure play foundry business. The ADS Design Kit provides a tight link between the Agilent EDA design environment with Knowledge*on's GaAs foundry process models thereby establishing a seamless design flow from schematic to layout. This removes the time-consuming roadblocks experienced by designers having to construct their own design-flow from raw foundry model files. With a pre-established design flow, designers are set free to tackle the hardest circuit and system designs without worrying about the integrity of the design database.

"We have made dedicated efforts to provide our customers with the best design-flow & design-support infrastructure to allow them to do their time-consuming design work with maximum efficiency. By supplying our foundry libraries embedded in the ADS design kit, RF engineers save time and money over the old method of working with raw foundry model libraries. In addition to our world-class 6" InGaP/GaAs HBT process technology, this convenient ADS Design Kit reinforces the customer benefits of our foundry service" said Dr. Jae-Woo Park, CTO of Knowledge*on. "Now RFIC and MMIC designers have the shortest path between design and quality GaAs wafers which enables them to hit tight market windows".

About Knowledge*on Knowledge*on (listed on KOSDAQ, #36850), founded on 1988 & based in Iksan, Korea will provide the first samples of InGaP/GaAs HBTs from their world-class 6 inch GaAs Open Foundry by the end of July 2001. The foundry has a capacity of 3000 wafers per month with a turn-around time of 6-8 weeks. Knowledge*on has accumulated its GaAs process expertise and technologies since its establishment 13 years ago as a GaAs component supplier. Today, it is fast becoming a world leader in the GaAs Open Foundry based on their successful GaAs business experiences and stabilized Quality and Production Control Systems that ensures high wafer yields. More information on Knowledge*on Inc. can be found at www.knowledge-on.com

About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. is a diversified technology company with approximately 47,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 2000, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at http://www.agilent.com.