News & Events
Intersil Portable Power Devices Enable Advanced Notebook Computer Designs

— Initial product offering sets standard for power management, meets demands of advanced microprocessors

IRVINE, Calif. — July 25, 2000 — Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading systems-oriented provider of ICs and semiconductors for the integrated communications market, today announced the inaugural device in a family of power management integrated circuits (ICs) specifically developed to power next generation, high performance mobile products. Intersil’s new portable power management devices are designed to increase battery life in the newest, most compact wireless and mobile devices.

Information retrieval and manipulation in mobile computing environments has created a demand for next-generation products that allow users to access Intranets, networks and the Internet at speeds rivaling desktop PCs. In this environment, power management becomes a critical element in successful system design. Advanced microprocessors demand more energy on a dynamic basis while the physical size of the portable information appliances continues to shrink, allowing less room for power management and thermal management devices.

Intersil’s first portable computer power management device efficiently regulates system energy usage and directly contributes to extended battery life. Specifically, Intersil’s architecture allows the central processing unit (CPU) voltage regulator to be completely turned off when the microprocessor is not in use, eliminating voltage generation for the CPU and reducing total system power consumption in aggressive mobile power management environments. This device automatically adjusts pulse width modulation (PWM) outputs to meet reduced current requirements in lower power sleep states, and these outputs can be individually turned off to further reduce power consumption. PWM is a high-frequency energy processing operation that is performed on the inverter-switched output voltage or current waveform to optimize performance.

"Smaller notebook PCs and more powerful microprocessors have resulted in an environment that requires an unprecedented level of power management," said Rick Furtney, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Power Management business. "Intersil has designed its family of portable power management devices to meet the demands of notebook computer designers and to help enable high speed information access using mobile devices. These and future Intersil portable power products demonstrate our commitment to anticipating market requirements and providing power management solutions in support of the increasing demand for integrated communications and portable appliances."

Intersil’s latest power management device combines voltage feed-forward and current mode control to achieve very fast dynamic response to current and voltage demands from existing and future generations of microprocessors and peripherals. The ultra-fast transient response capability of the device enables the voltage regulators to quickly react to the changing power requirements of motherboard and peripheral devices to dramatically reduce the possibility of data errors.

The device integrates three PWM controllers to offer world class efficiency while requiring extremely low shutdown and standby currents. Traditionally, inefficient current sense resistors that dissipate power and generate heat are employed to monitor how much current is being consumed. Intersil’s IC device enhances efficiency by eliminating these current sense resistors and using the resistance of the lower metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). The availability of Intersil MOSFET and controller IC products that have been designed to work together for maximum efficiency provide mobile system designers a powerful new tool to combat thermal challenges of new microprocessors and peripherals, as well as the demands for increased product availability when operating from a battery.

The first device in Intersil’s portable power management family is highly integrated and provides power control and protection for the five output voltages (+12V, 5V, 3.3V, 5V standby and 3.3V standby) that typical notebook PCs require. Additional features of the device include under-voltage lockout, thermal shutdown and a power-good output voltage monitor

Technical Specifications
The Intersil IPM6220 features high efficiency over wide load and input voltage ranges through the use of synchronous rectification on the main +5V and +3.3V outputs and hysteretic mode operation at light load. The IPM6220 operates directly from a 5.6V ~ 24V battery input. The design uses two highly efficient synchronous-rectified buck PWM converters to provide the main +5V and +3.3V output voltages. A third PWM boost converter provides an output of +12V. Two integrated linear regulators provide +5V and +3.3V always on low current outputs.

Pricing, Packaging and Availability
The IPM6220 will be available in a small 24-pin SSOP package. Samples, evaluation boards, reference designs and application notes are immediately available. The device will be priced at $3.50 in 1000 piece quantities. Under the terms of a previously announced joint development agreement, the IPM6220 will be second sourced by Fairchild Semiconductor as the FAN5230. For further information about the Intersil IPM6620, visit Intersil’s Web site at www.intersil.com, or call 1-888-INTERSIL, ext. 7992

About Intersil Corporation
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.

The price information for the IPM6220 in twenty four lead SSOP packaging contained herein, is subject to change without notice and it is not intended to, nor does it, create any contractual obligations or otherwise. The price information is for informational purposes only and does not reflect our current pricing. Current pricing can only be obtained through Intersil's authorized sales channels.

This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends, 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 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.