LSI Licenses Semiconductor Technology to IBM

LSI Logic Corp., the No. 1 maker of custom semiconductors, on Sunday said it has licensed technology to IBM Corp. for making specialized semiconductors that run communication devices.

Terms weren’t disclosed. IBM, the No. 1 computer maker, said it will use LSI’s digital signal processor core, software and tools to expand IBM’s system-on-a-chip products. DSPs translate light, sound and other signals into digital computer language. The cores can work as one part of a so-called system-on-a-chip, which performs the functions of many semiconductors.

LSI calls its DSP design ZSP 400, which is one of several competing standards, Chief Executive Wilfred Corrigan said. Other DSP makers include Texas Instruments Inc. and Analog Devices Inc. Corrigan expects that the IBM licensing agreement will make the ZSP core the dominant DSP standard in a few years and save time and money for system developers and designers.