ELMOS Purchases Multiple Credence Piranha Systems for Automotive Device Testing

MILPITAS, Calif., Sept. 24 -- Credence Systems Corporation announced today that ELMOS Semiconductor AG, a leading developer and manufacturer of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for the automotive industry, signed a multiple-system purchase agreement for the Credence Piranha(TM) system. ELMOS, a long-standing Credence customer, selected Piranha because it sought a comprehensive test platform to support its entire automotive device product line.

Today, a typical car has between twenty and thirty electronic control unit (ECU) processors and analysts estimate that the average vehicle will increase its electronic content by more than forty percent by 2010. In addition to applications such as power windows, power steering, air bags and back-seat DVD players, chips and electronics are being used for more critical applications such as engine control and monitoring, as well as traction and suspension performance.

In order to address today's increasingly advanced automotive applications, ELMOS required an analog and mixed-signal test system that could deliver a cost-effective solution and offered specialized instruments, such as high- voltage swings and PMU per pin architecture.

"Our decision to select Credence was based on the overall value that ELMOS will realize through the use of the Piranha systems," said Knut Hinrichs, ELMOS' chief executive officer and chairman of the board. "Piranha fills our need for a single test system with a unified platform that can test our entire automotive product line from engine control and power train to navigation and safety."

Credence's Piranha shares the same architecture, common instrumentation, maintenance programs, and test applications with the Credence Falcon(TM) system, which reduces test costs through a high-speed computer/tester interface, and parallel, multi-site and concurrent test capabilities.

"ELMOS' purchase of the Piranha systems reflects a decade-long commitment to the automotive test business by Credence," said Dr. Graham Siddall, chairman and chief executive officer, Credence Systems Corporation. "An automotive IC can face as many as eight different test passes, including wafer and package test at different temperature and stress points. Credence understands that high test coverage and increasing test complexity indicate a critical need for more effective solutions to address existing test challenges and next-generation automotive requirements."

About ELMOS

ELMOS Semiconductor AG is a developer and manufacturer of custom specific integrated system solutions based on semiconductors. For more than fifteen years, ELMOS has generated about eighty-five percent of its net sales in the automotive electronics segment.

About Credence

Credence Systems Corporation is the industry's leading provider of design- to-test solutions for the global semiconductor industry. With a commitment to applying innovative technology to lower the cost-of-test, Credence delivers competitive cost and performance advantages to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), wafer foundries, outsource assembly and test (OSAT) suppliers and fabless chip companies worldwide. A global, ISO 9001-certified company with a presence in 20 countries, Credence is headquartered in Milpitas, California. More information is available at http://www.credence.com/.

Credence is a registered trademark, and Credence Systems, SZ Falcon and SZ Piranha are trademarks of Credence Systems Corporation. Other trademarks that may be mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

   Company Contact:
   Judy Dale
   Sr. Director, Marketing Communications
   Credence Systems Corporation
   408.635.4309 or 408.635.4986 fax
   E-mail: judy_dale@credence.com