News & Events
Intersil's Real-Time Clocks Provide Increased Security and Tamper Detection

-- Intersil's ISL1219/21 Feature Event Detect, Time Stamp, I²C Interface, Timing and Crystal Compensation, Power Fail Indicator, Intelligent Battery Backup Switching, Periodic or Polled Alarm and 2 Bytes of Battery-Backed User SRAM in 10-Lead MSOP Package

MILPITAS, CA, August 30, 2006 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced two new micropower real-time clock/calendar devices. The ISL1219/21 are ideal for time stamping single events such as the moment a warranty is voided by the removal of a cover, or recurring events such as the opening and closing of a security door.

“The event detect and time stamp features in these ultra-small devices operate in both normal and battery mode,” said Rouben Gharagozian, marketing director for Intersil’s Real-Time Clocks product group. “These micropower real-time clocks, with their enhanced security functionality, are uniquely suited for a variety of applications ranging from security, warranty monitoring, data collection and recording.”

These devices can time stamp an event by either issuing an output signal or by stopping the real-time clock (RTC) registers from advancing at the moment the event occurs. The output signal contains the second, minute, hour, date, month and year that the triggering event occurred.

The ISL1219/21 offer two options for switching from normal power to battery backup power. All RTC functions except the I²C bus are operational during battery backup mode unless disabled. The user SRAM (static random access memory) is operational until battery power drops below 1.8V.

The ISL1219/21 are available in a space-saving 10-lead MSOP package and the integrated crystal compensation enables the use of a less expensive external crystal. The ISL1221 has a separate FOUT than the IRQ/FOUT in the ISL1219. The FOUT is the frequency output that is programmable from 32.768 kHz to 1/32 Hz. It is used for a variety of timing applications including the clocking of the microcontroller in sleep mode, eliminating external crystal and further reducing the BOM.

Ensuring Accurate Time
On-chip oscillator compensation provides initial crystal frequency trimming through an I²C interface for timing accuracy, enabling the use of a low cost crystal. The real time clock tracks time with separate registers for hours, minutes, and seconds. The device has calendar registers for date, month, year and day of the week. The calendar is accurate through 2099, with automatic leap year correction.

Intersil’s Trademarked InterSeal™ Battery-Saving Feature
Intersil’s InterSeal™ Battery Saver prevents initial battery current drain before the devices are first used. For example, battery-backed RTCs are commonly packaged on a board with a battery connected. In order to preserve battery life, these devices will not draw any power from the battery source until after the device is first powered up from the VDD source.

Periodic or 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 device can be configured to provide a hardware interrupt via the IRQ pin. There is a repeat mode for the alarm allowing a periodic interrupt every minute, every hour, every day, etc.

Key Features

• Low power – 400nA typical current in battery backup mode
• Event detect/time stamp
• Oscillator compensation circuits
• Power fail indicator and battery backup
• Periodic or polled alarm
• 2 bytes of battery-backed user SRAM
• InterSeal battery saver
• I²C interface
• Separate FOUT pins on the ISL1221

Target Applications

• Industrial, including power meters, control units, security systems, ATMs, cameras, vending machines and electronic door openers
• Medical, including portable medical instruments, defibrillators and glucose meters
• Handheld units, such as point-of-sale terminals and scanners

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 and real-time clocks. Timing circuits provide clock pulsing and synchronization in digital systems as well as pulse modulation circuits. 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 also features InterSeal™ battery saver technology, programmable temperature compensation, and other integrated functions, such as programmable alarms, power-on reset and watchdog timer, EEPROM/SRAM for control and storage (16 to 256kb) and a clock divider to provide a clock to other circuits. To learn more about Intersil’s timing circuits visit the Timing Circuits page at http://www.intersil.com/timing/.

Packaging, Pricing and Availability
The ISL1219 is offered in a 10-lead MSOP and is priced at $1.50. The ISL1221 also includes separate FOUT and shared IRQb/EVDETb in a 10-lead MSOP package and is priced at $1.60. All pricing is in 1,000-unit quantities. Intersil also provides evaluation boards for these devices. More information on the ISL1219 is available at http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL1219,0.html and more information on the ISL1221 is available at http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL1221,00.html.

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, handheld products and notebook computing. Intersil’s product families address both power management and analog signal processing functions. Intersil products include ICs for battery management; hot-swap and hot-plug controllers; linear regulators; supervisory ICs; switching DC/DC regulators; 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.

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