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Netanya, Israel, September 16, 2010

A breakthrough in automated FPGA-to-ASIC conversion allows fabless semiconductor company KaiSemi to provide customers with a seamless full turnkey ASIC solution, selling fully compatible replacement chips.

KaiSemi's proven process uses a unique in-house tool, which performs an automated conversion directly from the original FPGA netlist into a functionally-identical ASIC gate-level netlist.

Backed by a tier-one fab vendor, KaiSemi's automated conversion utilizes a database of multiple proven standard-cell fab process libraries. The wide range of libraries enables the conversion of any type and size of FPGA from any FPGA vendor to ASIC. This approach is accompanied by deep cost optimization during the automated conversion and allows the use of 3rd party standard hard cores (such as DDR interface, PCIe Phy, etc). The resulting ASICs – which are pin-compatible, timing-compatible, and functionally identical to the original FPGAs – consume less power and cost up to 70% less than their FPGA counterparts.

KaiSemi's automated conversion and flow eliminates the need for customer involvement and resources, NRE costs, long lead times, and the risks that are part of traditional FPGA-to-ASIC conversion flows. KaiSemi manages the whole FPGA-to-ASIC process for the customer, from the purchase order through conversion, the ASIC flow, manufacturing, all the way through to the shipment of the ASIC chips. This seamless conversion process – combined with the Zero NRE model – lets the customer order an ASIC chip as if it were an off-the-shelf second-source replacement chip with a relatively short lead-time.

"KaiSemi is focused on automating the process of converting any FPGA into an ASIC replacement chip while achieving the best cost solution in terms of price, power, area optimization, and the most appropriate fab process," said Gal Gilat, KaiSemi CEO. "Using a proven automated conversion tool with no RTL touch means we can offer a fully functional guarantee; we will provide a functionally-identical chip at a dramatically lower price within a significantly shorter lead time."

KaiSemi's team members originate in Flextronics-Semi's conversion division, where they specialized in VLSI, EDA and FPGA-to-ASIC gate array conversions. For more than 10 years, the team members performed over 500 successful conversions of FPGA/ASIC components.

KaiSemi is set to exhibit in Electronica 2010 trade show in Munich, Germany, from November 9th to November 12th in Hall A5, booth #166.

About KaiSemi Ltd.

KaiSemi is a fabless semiconductor vendor that specializes in selling replacement chips based on automated conversions. The company's conversions portfolio includes FPGA-to-ASIC, Multichip-to-ASIC, ASIC-to-ASIC, and DSP algorithm-to-ASIC.

KaiSemi's FPGA-to-ASIC conversion offering is complemented by additional capabilities. For example, the company can convert multiple FPGAs into a single ASIC die. KaiSemi can also add peripheral die (such as memory) stacked with the FPGA replacement die in a single package. KaiSemi also handles ASIC-to-ASIC conversions, mainly for End-of-Life purposes. Additional offerings include migrating DSP algorithms to ASIC implementations via FPGA evaluations and prototypes.

KaiSemi's business model is based on selling drop-in replacement chips at a reduced cost with no NRE, based on quantities. Each FPGA-to-ASIC conversion project quantity order covers the total one-time ASIC expenses while remaining significantly cheaper than the original FPGA chip order.

KaiSemi officially joined the Kai-Tek Group in late 2009. The company's founders and leaders originate in Flextronics Semi, where they specialized in VLSI, ASIC, EDA, and conversion-related fields. The team members' experience includes more than 500 conversions of FPGA/ASIC components.

KaiSemi is a daughter company of the Kai-Tek Group, which was established in 1996. The Kai-Tek Group is a leading Israeli representative and distributor of electronic and semiconductor components. The Kai-Tek Group also acts as a design house turnkey provider and as an electronic assembly manufacturer. Kai-Tek has been representing Toshiba Semiconductors and fab since 1998. The company's strong financial footing is backed up by revenues of $1 billion during the last 10 years.