Micrel announces two new soft-start high side power switches

San Jose, California, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the MIC94064/5, a series of high-side load switches that extend Micrel's industry-leading MIC9406x family of high-side load switch products.

The MIC9406x family now covers a wide range of battery-powered consumer and industrial applications that require a variety of turn-on characteristics, including portable computers, cell phones, and personal media devices. The MIC94064/5 series is currently available in volume quantities, with pricing starting at $0.37, for 1K quantities.

"A natural extension of our highly successful MIC94060/1/2 3, the new MIC94064/5 devices offer our customers even more design flexibility than ever before," noted John Lee, director of mixed-signal and RF products, Micrel. "With the introduction of the MIC94064/5 series, our customers can now pick a device from the MIC9406x family with a turn-on time that is optimized for their specific applications."

The MIC94064/5 offer an output voltage turn-on time of 115 micron s, complementing the less than 1 micron turn-on time for the MIC94060/1 and 800 micron s turn-on time for the MIC94062 3. The MIC9406x feature a typical R(DSON) of 77mohm. The devices operate with inputs ranging from 1.7V to 5.5V. Each solution can be driven by a low 1.5V logic level, which is accomplished by incorporating a novel built-in level shift circuitry that allows low voltage logic to control higher voltage supplies.

Battery time is greatly extended in portable applications due to the low operating current of 2 micron A and a shutdown current of less than 1 micron A. The MIC94064/5 have a slew rate controlled turn-on time of 115 micron s (typical) that prevents in-rush current. In addition, the MIC94065 provides an active load discharge circuit that insures capacitive loads retain no charge when the main switch is in an OFF state. The MIC94064/5 series are available housed in the thin 4-pin 1.2mm x 1.6mm MLF(R) and Teeny(TM) SC-70-6 packages.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products.

Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA, with regional sales and support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web: http://www.micrel.com.

Note: MLF is a registered trademark of Amkor Technology.
Teeny is a trademark of Micrel Inc.

CONTACT:
Julieanne DiBene,
Marketing Communications for Micrel Inc.,
+1-408-474-1276, Julie.DiBene@Micrel.com
Web site: http://www.micrel.com
(MCRL)
SOURCE: Micrel Inc.

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