Press Releases
Intersil and Durel Partner to Offer EL Illumination Systems for Cellular Phones and Portable Information Appliances

— EL Backlighting Technology is Efficient for Large Displays used in Wireless Applications

IRVINE, Calif., — May 23, 2000 — Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), a leader of silicon technology for integrated communications applications, and Durel Corporation — a joint venture of 3M (NYSE—MMM) and Rogers (NYSE-ROG) Corporation — today announced they have formed a product development relationship. The two companies will produce electroluminescent (EL) lamp backlighting drivers and solutions for use in personal communications products and portable computer applications.

EL backlighting technology is increasingly being used to provide uniform lighting of keypads and displays in a growing number of wireless products, such as cellular telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and internet access devices. Electroluminescent backlighting, which was popularized as a feature of the fashionable Timex Indiglo^® brand of watches, is also being used for automotive applications.

Durel is a pioneer of the popular EL backlighting system and the largest supplier of electroluminescent systems in the world.

"Intersil’s relationship with Durel solves the significant technical challenge that is posed by placing an EL backlight that requires high AC voltage into a battery operated device," said John Krehbiel, vice president of Intersil Signal Processing products. "Durel first approached the company because of Intersil’s unique analog and mixed-signal process capabilities for high voltage integrated circuits. This technology is ideal for producing EL lamp drivers that transform voltages to as high as 200-volts from a 3-volt source."

The relationship emphasizes Intersil’s expertise with high voltage integrated circuits and Durel’s core EL technology and systems architecture knowledge. The resulting backlighting system provides matched system performance that is also available from a single supplier. EL backlighting requires high voltages to excite phosphor particles to emit light. The phosphor particles are printed onto thin substrates and provide a uniform source of illumination with very little current draw — features that have great value in portable electronic applications.

"The relationship with Intersil is a critical component in Durel’s ability to supply superior performing products to our markets," said Rob Kimball, inverter development manager at Durel Corporation. "While Durel has developed proprietary solutions for the EL market, it is Intersil’s capabilities that enable these solutions to be realized. In addition, consistency in performance of Intersil’s products in high volume applications has been a factor in Durel’s ability to capture significant market share in the competitive Japanese market."

Added Chris Shol, senior sales and marketing manager for Durel: "EL backlighting not only meets designer preferences for low noise and high efficiency in a small package, but it satisfies the increasing consumer preference for well-illuminated displays in their personal communications devices. EL backlighting technology will be used in more than 25 percent of the total wireless telephone handsets that will be produced in 2000, with greater usage expected in the future."

Dataquest, a leading IT market research and consulting firm, estimates total worldwide cellular phone production will exceed 400 million units this year, growing to almost 570 million units in 2001.

For product information and samples, visit www.durel.com, or contact Durel Corporation, 2225 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85224, phone 480-917-6200.

About Durel Corporation
Durel Corporation is a Chandler, Arizona based manufacturer of electroluminescent backlighting systems. The company is a joint venture of 3M (NYSE—MMM) and Rogers (NYSE-ROG) Corporation. Durel Corporation is registered to ISO-9001 and QS9000 standards, and is an approved electroluminescent lamp supplier to the North American automotive industry.

About Intersil
Intersil uses its semiconductor expertise to enable highly integrated voice, data and video communications. Intersil's integrated communications portfolio includes PRISM^® Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) chip sets that enable mobile connectivity products for the home and office; analog, mixed-signal and digital integrated circuits for broadband access to wireless and wired Wide Area Networks (WANs); and power management products that enable 24x7 reliability in network servers, next generation PCs and information appliances. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Corporation.
Indiglo is a registered trademark of Timex Corporation.

This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the cellular phone and portable information appliance markets, that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to new technologies that could supplant EL technology, diminishing demand for cellular phones and portable information appliances, global and market conditions, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Intersil's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Specific risk factors can be found in Intersil’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.