SUNNYVALE, Calif. – October 28, 2010 – MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer, home networking, wireless, communications and business applications, announced today that long-time MIPS licensee Cavium Networks has reaffirmed its commitment to the MIPS® architecture by renewing its license of the high-performance MIPS64® architecture.

“We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to the ultra-high performance MIPS64 architecture for future generations of our groundbreaking OCTEON® products. As Cavium’s solutions gain increasing traction for a wide range of networking and communications applications, we will continue to leverage the MIPS architecture, which delivers high performance, energy efficiency and an unsurpassed ecosystem for networking and communications,” said Rajiv Khemani, VP and GM, Networking and Communications, Cavium Networks.

“Cavium Networks takes full advantage of the flexibility afforded by a MIPS architecture license, developing some of the industry’s highest performance and most advanced multicore processors for networking, wireless and storage. The efficient and high-performance MIPS architecture is increasingly the architecture of choice for these applications, especially as data and video traffic increases across wired and mobile networks. We look forward to working closely with Cavium as its MIPS-Based solutions gain even stronger market traction,” said Art Swift, vice president of marketing and business development, MIPS Technologies.

The MIPS64 architecture provides a high level of performance for applications including networking and computing. Incorporating powerful features, standardizing privileged mode instructions, supporting past ISAs and providing an upgrade path from the MIPS32® architecture, the MIPS64 architecture provides a solid high-performance foundation for future MIPS processor-based development.

Cavium’s OCTEON multi-core processor family, based on the MIPS64 architecture, offers a scalable, high-performance, low-power solution for intelligent networking applications ranging from 100Mbps to 40Gbps. The OCTEON processors have been widely adopted in mainstream and leading-performance routers, switches, storage networking equipment, security appliances, data-center equipment, and a broad range of 3G, WiMAX and LTE infrastructure equipment including base stations, radio network controllers, aggregation systems, mobile subscriber gateways and deep packet inspection (DPI) equipment.

About Cavium Networks

Cavium Networks is a leading provider of highly integrated semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing for networking, communications and the digital home. Cavium Networks offers a broad portfolio of integrated, software-compatible processors ranging in performance from 100 Mbps to 40 Gbps that enable secure, intelligent functionality in enterprise, data-center, broadband/consumer and access and service provider equipment. Cavium Networks processors are supported by ecosystem partners that provide operating systems, tool support, reference designs and other services. Cavium Networks principal offices are in Mountain View, CA with design team locations in California, Massachusetts and India. For more information, please visit www.caviumnetworks.com.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc. (www.mips.com)

MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqGS: MIPS) is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores that power some of the world’s most popular products for the home entertainment, communications, networking and portable multimedia markets. These include broadband devices from Linksys, DTVs and digital consumer devices from Sony, DVD recordable devices from Pioneer, digital set-top boxes from Motorola, network routers from Cisco, 32-bit microcontrollers from Microchip Technology and laser printers from Hewlett-Packard. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices worldwide.

MILPITAS, CA – October 28, 2010 – Linear Technology Corporation introduces the LTC3891, a high voltage synchronous step-down DC/DC controller that draws only 50µA in standby mode with the output in regulation. The 4V to 60V input supply range is designed to protect against high voltage transients, continue operation during automotive cold crank and cover a broad range of input sources and battery chemistries. The output voltage can be set from 0.8V to 24V at output currents up to 20 amps with efficiencies as high as 95%, making it well suited for 12V, 24V or 48V automotive, heavy equipment, industrial control, robotics and telecom applications.

The LTC3891 has powerful 1.1Ohm on-chip MOSFET gate drivers. It operates with a selectable fixed frequency between 50kHz and 900kHz and is synchronizable to an external clock from 75kHz to 850kHz with its phase-locked loop (PLL). The user can select from continuous operation, pulse skipping and low ripple Burst Mode^®operation during light loads. Its current-mode architecture provides easy loop compensation, fast transient response and excellent line regulation. Output current sensing is accomplished by measuring the voltage drop across the output inductor (DCR) for the highest efficiency or by using an optional sense resistor. Current foldback limits MOSFET heat dissipation during overload conditions. Additional features include a low 95ns minimum on-time for high step-down ratios at high frequency, up to 99% duty cycle for low voltage drop out, an internal LDO that powers gate drivers from the input voltage or EXTVCC and a power good signal. 

The LTC3891 is available in 20-pin 3mm x 4mm QFN and 20-lead TSSOP thermally enhanced packages. Three operating junction temperature grades are available with extended and industrial versions from -40° to 125°C, a high temp automotive grade version from -40°C to 150°C and a military grade version from -55°C to 150°C. The 1,000-piece price starts at $3.47 each. For more information, visit www.linear.com/3891.