News & Events
Intersil's Real-Time Clocks Enhance Security While Reducing Cost and Footprint

— Intersil's ISL12024/25 Feature a Permanent 64-Bit Unique ID Integrated with Standard Clock, Calendar and Alarm Functions in a Tiny Package; ISL12025 Also Adds a CPU Supervisor and Watchdog Timer for Greater BOM Reduction

MILPITAS, CA, February 21, 2007 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced the ISL12024 and ISL12025 micropower real-time clock/calendar devices. These devices feature an integrated factory-set 64-bit unique ID that is read-only and tamper-proof for increased security and reduced footprint and BOM cost.

The ISL12024/25 continue the trend toward feature integration by combining clock/calendar/alarm functions with 4Kbits of EEPROM memory and 64 bits of unique ID and the ISL12025 also adds a CPU supervisor function, all in a tiny 8-lead package suitable for both fixed and portable applications. This level of integration benefits the customer by reducing design cost and footprint and communication with the device is accomplished via the industry-wide I²C interface standard.

“The ISL12024/25 feature an I²C communication link, which provides a reliable communication channel for the unique ID,” said Rouben Gharagozian, marketing director for Intersil’s Timing products group. “The I²C communication interface is universal and communicates with all devices on the board, saving design time and simplifying the entire system.”

Accurate Timekeeping with Very Low Power Dissipation
With on-chip timing and crystal compensation, these devices allow tuning of the crystal frequency through the microcontroller for accurate timekeeping. The ISL12024/25 feature automatic battery backup in the event system power is interrupted and are designed to operate with a wide range of supply voltages from 2.7V to 5.5V and in a battery back-up mode down to 1.8V. Power consumption in either case is quite low, with typical 800nA in battery mode. This further enhances the security and reliability of the final product by extending operation in battery mode.

The ISL12024/25 also provide 4Kbits of EEPROM with eight modes of Block Lock™ control. Block Lock control allows safe, secure memory for critical user and configuration data by preventing accidental corruption of data. The EEPROM data retention is guaranteed over 2,000,000 write cycles.

The calendar has separate registers for date, month, year and day-of-week. The calendar is correct through 2099, with automatic leap year correction. The 64-bit unique ID is written, verified and locked at the factory, and it is only accessible for reading and cannot be altered by the customer.

The ISL12025 has integrated power-on reset (POR) and watchdog timer functions with five selectable VTRIP levels ranging from a default level of 2.63V to 4.64V, and has a single output for RESETb. The ISL12024 has an IRQb/FOUT pin that is software-selected to provide alarm IRQb or frequency output FOUT . The FOUT has four frequency settings: disabled, 1Hz, 4096Hz and 32,768Hz.

Polled Alarm
The alarm can be set to any clock/calendar value for a match (for example: every minute, every Tuesday or at 5:23 AM on March 21). The alarm status is available by checking the status register, or the ISL12024 device can be configured to provide an interrupt via the IRQ/FOUT pin. There is a pulse mode for the alarms allowing for repetitive alarm functionality.

Key Features

• Real-time clock/calendar
  • Tracks time in hours, minutes and seconds
  • Day of the week, day, month and year
  • 3 selectable frequency outputs
• 64-bit unique ID
• Two non-volatile alarms
  • Settable on the second, minute, hour, day of the week, day or month
  • Repeat mode (periodic interrupts)
• Automatic backup to battery or SuperCap
• On-chip oscillator compensation
  • Internal feedback resistor and compensation capacitors
  • 64-position digitally controlled trim capacitor
  • 6 digital frequency adjustment settings to ±30ppm
• 512x8-bits of EEPROM
  • 16-Byte page write mode (32 total pages)
  • 8 modes of Block Lock™ protection
  • Single Byte write capability
• High reliability
  • Data retention: 50 years
  • Endurance: 2,000,000 cycles per Byte
• I²C interface
  • 400kHz data transfer rate
• 800nA battery supply current
• Package options
  • 8 Ld SOIC and 8 Ld TSSOP packages
  • Pb-free plus anneal available (RoHS compliant)

Target Applications

• Utility meters
• Audio video equipment
• Modems
• Network routers, hubs, switches, bridges
• Cellular infrastructure equipment
• Fixed broadband wireless equipment
• Pagers/PDAs
• POS equipment
• Test meters/fixtures
• Office automation (copiers, fax)
• Computer products
• Security-related applications

About Intersil’s Timing Circuits
Intersil has a broad portfolio of timing control products that offers a selection of industry-standard quartz- and RC-based timing/oscillator ICs along with real-time clocks. Real- time clocks provide actual time in a digital format for clock displays, rate measurement, computers and a variety of consumer and industrial systems. This portfolio of devices also features InterSeal™ battery saver technology, and other integrated functions, such as programmable alarms, power-on reset and watchdog timer, EEPROM/SRAM for control and storage use (16 to 256kb), and a clock divider to provide a clock to other circuits. To learn more about Intersil’s timing circuits portfolio, visit the Timing Circuits page at http://www.intersil.com/timing/.

Packaging, Pricing and Availability
The ISL12024 is available now in 8-lead SOIC and TSSOP packages, with prices starting at $1.80 each. The ISL12025 is available now in 8-lead SOIC and TSSOP packages, with prices starting at $1.97 each. All pricing is in 1,000-unit quantities. More information on the ISL12024 is available at http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL12024,0.html and more information on the ISL12025 is available at http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL12025,0.html.

Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of the ISL12024/25, visit Intersil’s photo room at: http://www.intersil.com/pressroom/photoarchives.asp. About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors. The Company's products address some of the industry's fastest growing markets, such as, flat panel displays, cell phones, other handheld systems, and notebooks. Intersil’s product families address power management functions and analog signal processing functions. Intersil products include ICs for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, power sequencers, supervisory ICs, bridge drivers, PWM controllers, 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 radiation-hardened 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.

Block Lock is a trademark of Intersil Americas, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.