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Elantec Introduces Two New Laser Drivers For Latest DVD/CD Dual Writer Optical Disk Drives

Dual output versions of industry-standard controller interfaces enable fast time-to-market drive designs for DVD/CD dual writer market

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, March 18, 2002 -- Elantec Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNT), a leader in high-performance analog ICs, today announced two new laser driver products targeted for the rapid emerging DVD/CD dual writer optical drive market. The EL6285C and EL6219C both provide dual outputs -- one for the CD laser and one for the DVD laser -- with Elantec's industry-standard controller interfaces. These ICs enable optical disk drive manufacturers to quickly develop a DVD/CD dual writer drive from existing CD writer drive designs.

The EL6285C is a dual 3-channel laser driver with one read and two write levels. The EL6219C is also a dual laser driver with 4-channels but has one read and three write levels. Each channel has a separate enable pin for the DVD or CD driver output. This feature simplifies control and provides 100 percent compatibility with existing single-channel designs. Each device incorporates two separate high frequency modulation (HFM) oscillators for up to 500MHz and 100mA p-p per output. The HFM reduces laser-noise and read-noise error rates. The current outputs of the two EL6285C write channels are rated at 250mA and 150mA, while the three write channel current outputs of the EL6219C are 200mA, 100mA, and 100mA. Both enable CD-R 'X' speeds up to 32X and comply with the Orange Specification Standard for CD-R and CD-R/W write strategies and all DVD formats.

Stephen P. Sacarisen, Director of Strategic Marketing, Optical Products Group, said, "The EL6219C and EL6285C increase the breadth of our DVD/CD dual writer products by offering OEMs a fast time-to-market strategy for bringing medium-performance -- 4X DVD, and 32X CD writer specifications -- dual writer products to market using existing parallel controller IC architectures." Mr. Sacarisen added, "Our EL629X family of serial interface controllers for the high-performance -- 8X DVD and 48X CD writer specification -- DVD/CD dual writer applications represents the future of our laser driver technology by enabling ever greater 'X' speed performance with increased integration of system level functions."

Samples of the EL6285C and EL6219C in the 32-pin LPP package are available now, with production lead times of eight to ten weeks. To receive further information, please contact Stephen Sacarisen at Elantec's Corporate Headquarters in Milpitas, CA at (408) 945-1323 x 345.

Elantec designs, manufactures and markets high performance analog integrated circuits primarily for the video, optical storage, communications and power management markets. The Company targets high growth commercial markets in which advances in digital integrated circuit technology are driving increasing demand for high speed, high performance and low power consumption analog circuits.

Certain matters discussed in this press release pertaining to the market trends, product performance and cost effectiveness are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include product introductions by the Company's competitors, competitive pricing pressures, fluctuations in manufacturing yield, changes in the mix or markets in which products are sold, availability and cost of raw materials and other risks discussed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Elantec is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.