Now defunct San Jose, California microprocessor maker Exponential Technology Inc, which had been working on high-performance PowerPC chips for the Macintosh before that market disappeared from under it, is about to set a battle raging between the semiconductor giants as bidding begins for its patents. Computergram suggested last month that the failed company could create a rumpus over its patents (CI No 3,199) with Intel Corp up among the front runners. The Wall Street Journal reports that bidders for the patents, which are thought to include technology to develop next generation chips, will include the obvious bunch of Intel, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Cyrix Corp as well as Digital Equipment Corp.
