July 26, 2001

Ardesta LLC has launched its third start-up company, Discera, Inc.

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ANN ARBOR, MICH. July 26, 2001--Ardesta LLC has launched its third start-up company, Discera, Inc.

Using technology developed by Dr. Clark T.-C. Nguyen, the University of Michigan, and the University of California at Berkeley, Discera will develop micromechanical signal processor technology to replace the passive components on a wireless circuit board with an integrated microsystem that offers exceptional reception quality.

Discera's technology will enable cellular phones and similar personal communication devices to be much smaller and cheaper, and to use significantly less battery power. Such performance enhancements will be achieved using microsystems technology, with numerous discrete filtering applications ultimately integrated onto a single chip. This will substantially reduce the part count in today's handsets, while greatly enhancing their performance and robustness.

"This company can make the legendary 'Dick Tracy phone in a watch' a reality," Rick Snyder, Ardesta CEO said. "Without the expense and size of all the additional components, the small wireless handset will become the standard communication tool for individuals. Even more significantly, this technology will ignite an explosion in the use of wireless data networks."

Serving as a Vice President of Discera will be its founder and top technologist, Dr. Clark T.-C. Nguyen. He received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California at Berkeley in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. In 1995, he joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, and is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. From 1995 to 1997, he was a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s New Millennium Integrated Product Development Team on Communications, which roadmapped future communications technologies for NASA's use into this decade. Over his six years at the University of Michigan, Prof. Nguyen has pioneered research in micromechanical vibrating resonator devices and circuits based on the technology to be used by Discera.

"It is very gratifying to me to see the technology that I have nurtured in the lab evolve into a company with great end user potential. I am anxious to start working with telecommunications OEMs to put Discera into practice," Dr. Nguyen said.

Vinay Gupta will serve as Discera's president. Gupta is well known for co-founding Bluegill Technologies in Ann Arbor in 1996. He most recently served as vice president of operations of Checkfree i-Solutions.

"I am pleased that another transfer of U-M engineering research to the private sector will improve the quality of people's lives," said Stephen W. Director, Dean of the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. "We strive to make a difference in society. Commercial applications of Michigan Engineers' work in microsystems will provide more convenience for consumers, present new opportunities to entrepreneurs, and create good jobs for the local economy. I wish my colleague Dr. Nguyen and his Discera associates well."

"Discera's micromechanical signal processing promises to have a major impact on wireless communications, by reducing the size and power consumption of analog filter components," said Roger T. Howe, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley and Director of the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center.

For more information, visit Discera's Web site at www.discera.com.

About Ardesta LLC

Located in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ardesta is an industry accelerator™ dedicated to the development of microsystems and other small technologies. The company invests in start-ups and early stage companies; provides business and technical resources to support these companies; and develops industry-building resources. The company's Web site is www.ardesta.com. The other companies in Ardesta's family include Sensicore, Translume and HandyLab of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Ion Optics of Waltham, Mass.; Micronics of Redmond, Wash.; and Sarcon Microsystems of Knoxville, Tenn.