News & Events
Intersil Announces Industry's Most Advanced Laser Driver for DVD/CD Recordable 'Super Drives'

-- Newest Write strategy programmable dual laser driver engine ~-- enables faster Write speeds for all DVD/CD recordable formats

IRVINE, CA, June 4, 2002 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog and wireless networking solutions, today unveiled the new EL6295C programmable laser driver. This industry breakthrough in programmable architecture is targeted for the emerging dual-writer ‘super-combo’ drives that can Read and/or Write all CD and DVD disc formats. Addressing one of the fastest growing semiconductor markets in the industry, the EL6295C will allow optical storage manufacturers to develop DVD drives that will record 4.7 GB of information (movies, music or data) in just over seven minutes.

“The EL6295C is the third generation of our EL629XC Write strategy programmable laser driver IC’s. Improvements include increased performance in both the CD and DVD ‘X’ speed Write performance and the integration of key system-level functions,” said Mohan Maheswaran, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Elantec Product Group. “The EL6295C shows our commitment to offering the highest performance products to our customers. The EL629XC architecture lets optical drive OEMs design a single product for all industry CD and DVD formats with a longer lifecycle and a higher value than any current products.”

Third Generation Programmable Architecture
The new architecture integrates the standard DVD and CD Write-strategy waveforms into the laser driver, which eliminates the need to drive high-speed timing signals over flex cables from the controller IC to the optical pickup unit (OPU). The Write waveforms are programmable through internal register that support all of the DVD and CD formats, media and speeds. Internal command and data registers are programmed through a serial bus interface. This integrated architecture increases the ‘X’ Write speed performance dramatically compared to current generations of laser diode drivers.

EL6295C Advanced Technical Features
Advanced features of the EL6295C include an integrated two-channel sample-and-hold (S/H) amplifier that is programmable under register control for four separate gains to provide real-time power control of the Read, Erase or Write level. Running optical power control (ROPC) is also expected to reduce the readback error caused by disc dust and fingerprints. The channel clock speed of 210 MHz enables up to an 8X DVD Write and up to 48X CD Write performance. Other features include programmable amplitude and frequency modulation, a low noise read amplifier, a programmable laser slope compensation digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a programmable laser threshold current DAC.

EL6295C Availability and Pricing
The EL6295C is available now in the tiny 38-pin leadless plastic package (LPP). Each IC is priced at $4.00 in 10,000-unit quantities. Contact Stephen P. Sacarisen for more information: (408) 945-1323 x 345.

To learn more about Intersil’s Elantec optical storage devices and solutions, visit the Intersil Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/cda/application_e/0,1293,36,00.html About Intersil
Intersil Corporation manufactures and markets high performance analog and wireless networking solutions. As a global semiconductor leader, Intersil focuses on four of the industry's fastest growing markets – flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable), power management, and wireless networking. Intersil brings added customer value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that enhance the computing experience for people wherever they live, work or travel. 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: www.intersil.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are based upon Intersil Corporation’s (“Intersil”) management’s current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about Intersil’s, and its Elantec Product Group’s (“Elantec”), business and industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," “predicts,” "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," “should,” “would,” “potential,” “continue,” and variations of these words (or negatives of these words) or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil, some of which apply to Elantec, include, but are not limited to: the slowdown in the technology sector; the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices in enterprises and in homes; the rate at which consumers purchase notebook computers; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless access, communications analog, and other analog technologies and products; the rate at which consumers adopt Elantec’s optical storage (CD and DVD recordable), video and communications technologies and products; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the ability of our customers to manage inventory; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability and quality of our foundry capacity and raw materials; availability, pricing, and quality of third party foundry and assembly and test capacity and raw materials; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party foundries and assembly and test facilities, and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly and test facilities; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies; the effectiveness of Intersil’s expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; the risks inherent in acquisitions, including the acquisition of Elantec (including integration issues; costs and unanticipated expenditures; changing relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners; potential contractual, employment, and intellectual property issues; risks of not securing regulatory approvals; accounting treatment and charges; and the risks that the acquisition cannot be completed successfully, or that the anticipated benefits of the acquisition are not realized); intellectual property disputes, customer indemnification claims, and other litigation risks; Intersil’s ability to develop, market, and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a timely manner, as well as other risk factors. Intersil’s recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other Intersil filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov) discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this communication and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. Intersil is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
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