Cypress licenses Astro PCI Express PHY technology

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. has licensed Astro Semiconductor's PCI Express Physical Layer (PHY) technology. Astro's PCI Express PHY includes the PMA and PCS layers and interfaces to the MAC layer through a PIPE-compliant interface. Typical applications include communication switches, bridge chips, and chipsets for desktop and mobile computers.

"The PHY is probably the most technically challenging piece of a PCI Express solution, and Astro was able to demonstrate that its PHY technology could meet some very stringent requirements in the area of process and price/performance. PCI Express will be an important addition to Cypress' product line, and we're happy to be working with Astro," said Cathal Phelan, VP of the personal communications division at Cypress Semiconductor.