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Elantec Releases New Laser Diode Driver For 32x CD-R and 20X CD-R/W Optical Disk Drives

The EL6218C offers lower power consumption and higher current output for more compact, higher speed CD-R/RW drives

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, February 19, 2002 -- Elantec Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNT), a leader in high-performance analog ICs, is now shipping a new high speed laser driver IC designed to meet the demand for faster CD read/write (R/W) speeds and smaller form-factor slim line disk drive designs. The EL6218C has an integrated fast-settling I/V amplifier and one 250mA output current write channel to enable driving the higher power 780 nanometer lasers required to achieve 32X-and-greater CD-R speeds.

Along with the three current channels needed for compliance with the Orange Specification Standard for CD-R and CD-R/W write strategy formats, the EL6218C integrates an automatic power control (APC) amplifier and a high frequency modulator (HFM) oscillator. Integrating the HFM oscillator helps to reduce laser read noise, thus eliminating the need for an external oscillator-enable signal. This minimizes signal routing and component count, thereby lowering costs. The resultant savings in design time and board space facilitates the design of the more compact optical pick-up unit (OPU) needed in slim-line CD-R/W drive designs.

Stephen Sacarisen, Director of Strategic Marketing, Optical Products Group, said, "The CD-R/RW drive is rapidly becoming the industry standard in both the PC desktop and notebook segments. The higher output current of the EL6218C enables the design of even faster CD-R drives, in this case, greater than 32X-speed. The lower power consumption enables design of slim-line, small form-factor drives for both PC desktop and PC notebook computers." He added, "The EL6218C, pin-compatible and functionally compatible with Elantec's EL6248C, continues our legacy of providing leading-edge optical storage products with direct upgrade paths from our industry-standard pin-outs. This results in products with longer lifecycles and provides OEMs an extremely cost-effective solution for introducing higher CD-R "X" speed drives to meet market demands."

Samples are available now with production lead times of eight to ten weeks. To receive further information, please visit our web site at www.elantec.com, or 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.