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Micrel: Micrel Revolutionizes Portable With the Introduction of a New Family of White LED Drivers

^{Published on 2009-02-16 04:46:13, Last Modified on 2009-02-16 04:47:06 - Market Wire}
 

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - February 16, 2009) - Micrel Inc., (NASDAQ: [ MCRL ]), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched a new family of extremely efficient White LED (WLED) drivers that extends mobile handset talk time by up to an astounding 32 percent. The [ MIC284x ] solutions target a wide variety of mobile devices including portable display backlights, keypad backlighting and camera flash in mobile handsets, smart phones, portable media/MP3 players, portable navigation devices (GPS) and other portable devices -- all applications where saving battery power is critical. The [ MIC284x ] is currently available in volume quantities with pricing starting at $0.33 for 1K quantities. Samples can now be ordered on Micrel's web site at: [ http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do ].

"Typical portable display and keypad backlighting boost circuits waste large amounts of battery power generating a higher voltage. Micrel's new WLED driver architecture completely eliminates this loss and removes up to five external components, saving up to 62 percent footprint," said Andy Khayat, director of Micrel's portable product group. "The [ MIC284x ] driver product family represents a true paradigm shift away from traditional WLED circuits in that it provides the highest efficiency, smallest board area, and most elegant solution in today's market."

The [ MIC284x ] series is a family of high efficiency linear White LED (WLED) drivers designed to drive two to six WLEDs. Each IC features a unique linear charging scheme that saves the normally used switching components. This saves up to 62 percent board space. Also, this efficient linear scheme saves up to 32 percent battery life, additional power that the high power usage screens require. The [ MIC284x ] family ensures uniform display illumination through a Dynamic Average Matching (DAM™) technique which provides better than 1.5 percent current matching and accuracy. WLED brightness is controlled through an Ultra Fast PWM™ or Single Wire Digital 32-step interface. The Ultra Fast PWM™ interface is one of the most versatile control interfaces on the market allowing control of a wide range of frequencies from 200Hz to 500KHz and dimming down to less than 1 percent duty cycle. The [ MIC284x ] series is available in the 2mm x 2mm 10-pin Thin MLF® leadless package with a junction temperature range of -40degC to +125degC.

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 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.