News & Events
Intersil Launches Low-voltage Sub-1-Ohm Analog Switches Targeted for Portable Equipment and Handheld Applications

-- New switches offer industry’s highest ESD withstand rating, very low power consumption, fast switching and industry leading ultra-low R(ON) and R(ON) flatness

MILPITAS, CA, June 7, 2004 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced three new high-performance switches that provide enhanced performance and reliability over currently available devices. The MightyMUX™ ISL84714, ISL84715 and ISL84716 are bi-directional, ultra-low resistance, low-voltage, analog signal switches intended for use in cellphones, Smartphones, PDAs and other portable battery-powered products.

“The ISL84714, ISL84715 and ISL84716 are performance-upgrades with lower R(ON), and better R(ON) flatness and R(ON) matching than existing competing devices. They have significantly lower R(ON) at lower supply voltages, such as 1.8 V,” said Mamoon Rashid, director of Intersil’s Analog Solutions Product Group. “What’s more, with up to 6 kV ESD withstand rating, these products have at least double the ESD withstand level of competing Sub-1-Ohm devices, which enables increased reliability in handheld use, and significant added value to our customers.”

The ISL84714 is a guaranteed break-before-make single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, while the ISL84715 and ISL84716 are normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) SPST switches respectively. The R(ON) conduction resistance of each switch is much less than 1 Ohm over the full input range, which reduces signal loss to improve audio output levels in battery powered handheld products. When operated from a 3.3-V supply, the ISL84714 switches have a typical R(ON) flatness of 0.06 Ohms while the ISL84715 and ISL84716 have a flatness of 0.038 Ohms, making all three new switches ideal for use in low distortion audio paths such as MP3 players in Cell-Phones, and CD audio devices.

Drawing much less than 1 uA from a 3.6-V supply, the very low power consumption contributes to extended battery life in handheld products. A broad 1.65- to 3.6-V supply range makes these devices ideally suited for Alkaline, Nickel-Metal Hydride as well as Lithium-ion and Lithium Polymer battery-powered applications.

When operated from a nominal 3.3V supply, the devices are 1.8-V logic compatible. Switching speed at a supply of 3 V is typically a very fast 8-ns turn-on and 4-ns turn-off, reducing switching noise. This is particularly important in headphone audio switching applications.

ISL84714, ISL84715 and ISL84716 Technical Summary

• ISL84714 – break-before-make SPDT, 0.06 Ohm R(ON) flatness
• ISL84715 – SPST, normally open, 0.038 Ohm R(ON) flatness
• ISL84716 – SPST, normally closed, 0.038 Ohm R(ON) flatness
• High 6-kV ESD withstand voltage rating (ISL84714) – double the competition’s capability
• Complementary N- and P-channel FET architecture
• Wide supply voltage range of 1.65 to 3.6 V
• Rail to Rail signal swing with high current output
• Less than 1 Ohm R(ON) conduction resistance over full input range
  • ISL84714 – 0.70 Ohms max at 2.7 V supply
  • ISL84715 – 0.45 Ohms max at 2.7 V supply
  • ISL84716 – 0.45 Ohms max at 2.7 V supply
• Fast switching – 8 ns turn-on, 4 ns turn-off typical with 3-V supply
• Very low power consumption – 0.35 uA max over full temp. range from a 3.6-V supply
• Very small 2 X 2 mm SC-70 packaging for space-constrained portable applications
• Pb-free available
• Drop-in performance upgrades for MAX4714, MAX4715, MAX4716, DG3001, DG3002 and DG3003

The ISL84714, ISL84715 and ISL84716 are available now. The suggested resale price in 100 to 999-unit quantities is $0.75 for each ISL84714IH, ISL84715IH and ISL84716IH. ICs are available on tape and reel and in Pb-free packag>ing. Additional information on these and other high-performance switch and multiplexer solutions can be obtained online from Intersil’s Interface Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/switchmux/ 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 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. Intersil and MightyMUX are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.