UMS and Ansoft Collaborate on MMIC Process, Simulation and Design Technology to Address New Millimeter-Wave Applications; Resul

United Monolithic Semiconductor (UMS) and Ansoft
Corporation (NASDAQ:ANST) today announced the implementation of a
GaAs IC design methodology for millimeter-wave frequencies utilizing
on-chip electromagnetic extraction and a new Ansoft
Designer(R)/Nexxim(R) RF design kit for the PH15 PHEMT process.
   "MMIC design at millimeter-wave frequency requires a combination
of powerful circuit and accurate electromagnetic simulation of the
whole circuit. Ansoft with Nexxim, Ansoft Designer and HFSS(TM)
provides the level of performance and accuracy expected by UMS Foundry
customers, especially the ones who perform Q, V or W band designs on
our very low-noise PH15 PHEMT process," said Mr. Eric Leclerc, UMS
foundry manager.
   The millimeter-wave qualified kit implements rigorous device
modeling and validation by the foundry and is combined with advanced
frequency-domain simulation for highly nonlinear and highly integrated
circuits as well as integrated electromagnetic simulation for on-chip
extraction. The Ansoft Designer/Nexxim design kit supports electrical
design and physical circuit layout, enabling reliable MMIC design at
millimeter-wave frequencies. The kit provides all parameterized
electrical models and layout cells for hot and cold FETs, diodes, MIM
capacitors, spiral inductors, thin-film resistors and distributed
interconnects, such as transmission lines.
   The library will be available to Ansoft customers directly from
UMS (www.ums-gaas.com) and is easily configured for use within the
Ansoft Designer design management front-end, planar EM simulator and
Nexxim circuit simulator. The kit is available on Microsoft Windows(R)
2000 and XP, Red Hat Enterprise Linux(R) v3 as well as Solaris 8 and 9
systems.
   UMS and Ansoft collaborated with a major Japanese electronics
manufacturer and successfully developed a 60 GHz front-end MMIC for
short-range wireless communication. The ICs take advantage of the high
mobility .15-micron PHEMT process from UMS to achieve excellent
performance and stability at these millimeter-wave frequencies.
   "Using Ansoft's next-generation simulation products, Nexxim and
Ansoft Designer, we are now able to design 60GHz transmitter/receiver
circuits," said Mr. Ken-ichi Ohta, Manager of Engineering Development.
"Our requirement for multi-tone harmonic-balance analysis of highly
nonlinear circuits made it impossible for us to use previous
generation simulation tools."

   About UMS (United Monolithic Semiconductor)

   United Monolithic Semiconductors designs, produces and markets
leading-edge RF, microwave and millimeter-wave components and systems
for the Telecom, Space, Defense, Automotive and ISM Industries. As an
independent joint venture between two of the world's leading
enterprises, THALES and EADS, UMS offers a broad range of standard and
custom-designed MMICs, along with an open advanced GaAs technology
foundry service. The open foundry provides an integrated suite of
services and high-volume capacity aimed at ensuring that ASIC designs
with leading-edge performance are fabricated successfully on the first
fabrication run. UMS has two production facilities, at Ulm in Germany,
and Orsay in France, where the commercial headquarters and product
design and development also are based. To learn more, please visit
www.ums-gaas.com.

   About Ansoft

   Ansoft is a leading developer of high-performance electronic
design automation (EDA) software. Engineers use Ansoft software to
design state-of-the-art electronic products, such as cellular phones,
Internet-access devices, broadband networking components and systems,
integrated circuits (ICs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), automotive
electronic systems, power electronics and fuel-cell technology. Ansoft
markets its products worldwide through its own direct sales force and
has comprehensive customer-support and training offices throughout
North America, Asia and Europe. To learn more, please visit
www.ansoft.com.