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Intersil Precision Multiphase Core Regulator Delivers Industry-Leading System Accuracy Over Temperature For Next Generation Intel Pentium Notebook CPUs

-- ISL6260 offers customers an excellent CPU core regulator solution for notebook computers~-- Provides microprocessor core voltage regulation by driving up to 3 channels in parallel

MILPITAS, CA, March 10, 2005 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced a new precision multiphase microprocessor core voltage regulator that can be programmed for one-, two- or three-channel operation to implement next-generation Intel® Pentium® M protocols. It offers world-class efficiency at full and light load, and seamless integration with the entire Intersil multiphase controller lineup. The ISL6260 also delivers faster transient response than competitors’ devices through use of Intersil’s Robust Ripple Regulator™ (R3) technology, which enables variable switching frequency during load transients. The ISL6260 provides the highest overall system accuracy over temperature in the industry.

“Intersil is the recognized leader in multiphase synchronous buck regulators for the desktop market and we are now extending our advanced power management technology to the notebook market,” said Cindy Drapcho, vice president of Intersil’s Power Management Computing Products. “The ISL6260, matched with our ISL6208 gate driver, provides precise, optimum steady state and transient performance along with a new level of design flexibility for notebook power supply designers.”

The ISL6260 uses interleaved channels to multiply the output voltage ripple frequency and significantly reduce output channel currents. This reduction in ripple results in fewer external components and reduces the physical size and complexity of the CPU core power circuitry. The ISL6260 allows flexibility in choosing the number of phases required for the CPU design. In addition to notebooks, the ISL6260’s versatility lends itself perfectly for other applications including LCD-PC systems, point-of-load terminals and blade servers.

Intersil’s Robust Ripple Regulator (R3) technology (patents pending) combines the best features of fixed-frequency PWM and hysteretic PWM, while eliminating many of their shortcomings. This regulation method internally synthesizes an analog signal of the inductor ripple currents and uses hysteretic comparators on those signals to determine PWM pulse widths. Operating on these large-amplitude, noise-free synthesized signals allows the PWM to achieve lower output ripple and lower phase jitter than conventional hysteretic and fixed-frequency PWM controllers. Unlike conventional hysteretic converters, the ISL6260 has an error amplifier that allows the controller to maintain a 0.5% voltage tolerance. The hysteresis window voltage rides on the error amplifier output such that a load-current transient results in an increase in switching frequency to give the R3 a faster response than conventional fixed-frequency PWM controllers.

Intel’s Pentium protocol is a smart voltage regulation technology, which effectively reduces power dissipation in microprocessors. The ISL6260 supports the Pentium mobile processor voltage regulation specifications and PSI#, a feature recommended for Intel’s next generation CPUs to ensure the highest efficiency across the entire load line, which enhances battery life.

ISL6260 Features

• Precision multiphase core voltage regulation
  • 0.5 percent system accuracy over temperature
  • Enhanced load line accuracy
• Microprocessor voltage identification input
  • 7-bit VID input
  • 0.300V to 1.500V in 12.5mV steps
  • Supports VID changes on-the-fly
• Supports multiple current sensing approaches
  • Loss-less DCR (Direct Current Resistance) current sensing
  • Precision resistive current sensing
• Differential remote voltage sensing
• Over-current, over-voltage and under-voltage protection
• Superior noise immunity and transient response
• High efficiency across entire load range
• Programmable 1, 2 or 3 power channels up to 70A
• Balanced channel loading including transients

Applications

• Notebook computer systems
• LCD-PC systems
• Point-of-load terminals
• Blade servers

ISL6260 Pricing and Availability
The ISL6260 is available now in a standard lead finish or Pb-free, 40-lead 6 mm x 6 mm QFN package. The suggested price in 1,000 unit quantities is $3.50 for each IC. Additional information on these and other high-performance power solutions can be obtained online from Intersil’s Power Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/power/ 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. Robust Ripple Regulator (R3) is a trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.