Intersil Introduces New SMBus Accelerator Designed to Improve Data Tra

Intersil Introduces New SMBus Accelerator Designed to Improve Data Transmission Speed and Reliability

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2005--

ISL88694 Helps System Devices Meet SMBus and I(2)C Bus Timing Specifications and is Pin Compatible With LTC1694
    Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ:ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today introduced the ISL88694 SMBus accelerator. A dual active pull-up bus terminator, the ISL88694 is designed to improve data transmission speed and reliability on SMBus or similar 2-wire serial bus interfaces such as I(2)C. It permits operation of the bus at frequencies of up to 100 kHz despite the capacitive loads of multiple devices and/or long PC board traces.
    Pull-up resistors are typically used to connect each bus line to a positive supply voltage such that both clock and data lines are high when the bus is free. However, using simple pull-up resistors on the clock and data lines becomes problematic if there are long signal lines or many devices connected to the bus. In such cases, the combined capacitance of the bus then increases the rise time on the signal to such an extent that bus communication becomes unreliable or fails to meet the bus timing specifications.
    To improve the operation of a 2-wire bus where larger bus capacitance exists, the ISL88694 provides active pull-up using switched current sources. When the bus line is released, it is pulled high by the ISL88694 active current until the voltage exceeds a given threshold for a period of time. This voltage-time combination filters out noise on the signal line. If both inputs are high, the pull-up current drops to the standby level of 100 uA to minimize power consumption.
    In addition to improving bus transmission speed and reliability, the ISL88694 also provides active termination for bus lines. A noise filter on each channel prevents the device from responding to input transitions below a voltage-time threshold, and enhanced ESD protection on the input pins guarantees that the ISL88694 can withstand 8 kV ESD (HBM) events.

    ISL88694 Key Features

--	Pin-for-pin compatible with the LTC1694 with 8 kV ESD protection
--	Provides active termination for bus lines
--	Enhances system bus signal rise time
--	Improves data transmission reliability
--	Increases bus capacity while guaranteeing data integrity
--	2-wire SMBus and I(2)C compatible
--	Automatic power-saving standby mode
--	Small 5-lead SOT23 package

    Target Applications

    -- Servers

    -- Data acquisition

    -- Routers

    -- Battery chargers

    -- Portable instrumentation

    -- Desktop and notebook computers

    -- Facilities Tracking System

    Availability and Pricing

    The ISL88694 is now available in 5-lead SOT23 packaging for a price of $1.80 in 1,000 unit quantities.
    To learn more about Intersil's power management products, visit the Intersil web site at http://www.intersil.com/power.

    About Intersil

    Intersil Corporation, a Nasdaq 100 Index company, is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company's products address three of the industry's fastest growing markets: flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC-DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's web site and career page at: http://www.intersil.com

    This release may include "forward looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For information identifying economic, political, climatic, currency, regulatory, technological, competitive and some other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Intersil's Safe Harbor Forward Looking Statement disclaimer found at http://www.intersil.com/legal.asp, as well as Intersil's SEC filings as updated from time to time, found at http://www.sec.gov.

    All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Intersil Corporation, Palm Bay, Fla. Ron Paciello, 321-724-7184 E-Mail: rpaciell@intersil.com or Intersil Corporation John Allen, 321-729-4928 E-Mail: jallen02@intersil.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS SOFTWARE NETWORKING PRODUCT SOURCE: Intersil Corporation

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