News & Events
Xicor® Announces Precision Voltage Reference Technology Breakthrough
Proprietary Floating Gate Analog (FGA) Technology Enables Unprecedented Voltage Reference Performance
MILPITAS, California April 22, 2003 Xicor, Inc. (Nasdaq: XICO), a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, today previewed a new Floating Gate Analog (FGA) technology. FGA technology is an extension of an existing Xicor proprietary nonvolatile technology that capitalizes on the extraordinary capabilities of thick oxide Fowler-Nordheim Tunneling devices to retain a precision charge level on floating gate devices. The technology is being used for development of a family of ultra low power precision voltage references.
Utilizing this technical strength, Xicor achieves overall voltage reference performance far beyond that of existing conventional analog techno logies. By storing the reference voltage on a floating gate, Xicor is able to produce precis ion voltage references that feature exceptional initial accuracy, temperature coefficient and long-term stability with extremely low supply current. The performance of these products surpasses many of the most accurate voltage references currently available.
The initial accuracy is as low as 250 uV (A Grade) which demonstrates the ability of the FGA technology to set the floating gate charge precisely. The impact of temperature variations is as low as 1 ppm/°C (A Grade) due to the low temperature coefficient of the FGA devices. Very low drift over time is a direct result of the extremely low charge loss from the thick oxide floating- gate. Special analog techniques allow circuit operation with only 500 nA supply current and consequently provide an ideal solution for precision and battery powered applications.
Precision voltage references manufactured using conventional approaches such as buried-zener and band-gap devices have difficulty achieving 1 mV initial accuracy and 5 ppm/°C temperature coefficient, commented Davin Lee, Xicors Vice President of Marketing. As a result, voltage reference products that exceed this performance are expensive and limited, potentially restricting system performance. Unlike more conventional nonvolatile memory technologies that use thin tunnel oxides, Xicors proprietary FGA technology allows larger voltages on the floating-gate and in turn improves the initial accuracy and temperature coefficient and reduces drift over time.
The first devices in the voltage reference product line are pin-compatible with industry standard products and feature very high initial accuracy, very low temperature coefficient, excellent long term stability, low noise, excellent line and load regulation and the lowest power consumption currently available (ISUPPLY = 500 nA typical). These voltage references enable advanced applications for precision industrial & portable systems operating at significantly higher accuracy and lower power levels than can be achieved with conventional technologies.
Engineering samples are currently available for the X60008CS8-5 (C Grade, SO-8 Package) voltage references. Production volumes will be available later in the second quarter. The Company expects additional product introductions throughout the year including the X60003 (SOT-23) along with the X60038 and X60033 products that are targeted at applications requiring fast transient response. A variety of other voltage options down to 0.9000 V will also be available.
SUMMARY of X60008CS8-5 FEATURES
| Reference Voltage: | 5.000V | |
| Initial Accuracy Options: | ±250 uV | A Grade |
| ±500 uV | B Grade | |
| ±1000 uV | C Grade | |
| ±2000 uV | D Grade | |
| Temperature | 1 ppm/°C | A Grade |
| Coefficient Options: | 3 ppm/°C | B Grade |
| 5 ppm/°C | C Grade | |
| 10 ppm/°C | D Grade | |
| Power Supply Current: | 500 nA | |
| Voltage Noise: | 30 uV p-p (0.1 to 10 Hz) | |
| Long Term Stability: | 10 ppm/1000hrs | |
| Dropout Voltage: | < 300 mV | |
| Sink/Source Current: | ±10 mA | |
| Operating Temp Range: | -40°C to +85°C |
About Xicor
Xicor designs, develops and markets high performance analog mixed-signal integrated circuits used in communications, computing, networking and industrial applications. Xicors Mixed-Signal Products include data conversion products, power management integrated circuits, and application specific standard products and interface devices. Xicors programmable analog mixed-signal components regulate, control, convert and manage various voltages and currents through the use of a serial interface and internal EEPROM.
Xicor product, corporate and financial information are readily available on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks may include the impact of competing products and pricing, timely design acceptance by our customers, timely ability to ramp new products into volume production, industry wide shifts in supply and demand for semiconductor products, and other risks detailed from time to time in Xicor's SEC filings. "Xicor" is a registered trademark and “XDCP” is a trademark belonging to Xicor Inc.
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