News & Events
Xicor Introduces Micropower Digitally Controlled Potentiometer for Tuning of Battery Powered Systems
--Provides Low Power, Low Cost Replacement for Mechanical Potentiometers
MILPITAS, CA, March 10, 1997 - Xicor, Inc. (NASDAQ:XICO) today announced it has expanded the increasingly popular digitally controlled potentiometer technology it pioneered to the fast growing low voltage battery powered systems market.
According to Bruce Mattern, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, "Digitally controlled potentiometers are a popular replacement for mechanically adjusted devices. Now they are also fully suitable for use in 3 Volt battery powered systems. Xicor's new X9315 features low voltage operation, low noise and microwatt standby power. The new device comes in small 8-lead MSOP and SOIC packages, making it ideal for use in hand held systems where space is limited."
"The consumer market's rapid conversion to ever smaller battery powered products creates a strong need for small size and very low power digital potentiometers to replace knob or slider adjustable mechanical potentiometers. Advanced miniaturized products such as cell phones, pagers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and radios benefit significantly from low power digital control. The new X9315 offers a low cost and high reliability solution to failure prone mechanical potentiometers in these products," Mr. Mattern concluded.
Invented and developed by Xicor, E_POT Digitally Controlled Potentiometers are superior to mechanical potentiometers in a number of areas. They are dust proof, more reliable and have significantly longer operating life than traditional mechanical parts. They can be remotely located in systems and are highly resistant to shock, vibration, temperature extremes and other environmental stresses.
In audio applications, the X9315's ability to be digitally controlled allows the audio level adjustment to be simplified and eliminates the need for dials, shafts or knobs.
Wiper position is controlled by asserting a chip select signal, choosing an up or down direction, and providing increment pulses. The wiper features 32 steps or tap positions between the end terminals and moves one position for each increment pulse. Once located, the desired setting is stored in the device's internal E_PROM memory prior to power removal and is automatically recalled when power is re-applied. End-to-end resistance is rated at 1K ohms or 10K ohms.
The X9315 is specified for operation at battery voltages as low as 2.7 volts and consumes only 2.7 microwatts of power in static mode. The X9315 is housed in an 8-lead SOIC or in an ultra small MSOP package.
Pricing and Availability
The X9315 is priced at $0.89 in 10K quantities in 8-lead SOIC (X9315S) packages and $0.94 in 8-lead MSOP (X9315M) packages. Samples and production quantities for both packages are available now.
Xicor Corporate Information
Xicor develops and manufactures a broad line of in-the-system programmable semiconductor integrated circuits which retain information even when system power is lost or turned off. In-the-system programmability enables telecommunications, consumer, computer, industrial, automotive and military products to be adapted to changing software and operating environments and to be personalized by the user. Many of Xicor's products consume little power and operate well from a battery powered source, making them ideal for hand-held and portable applications.
Xicor products are used by manufacturers of electronic products worldwide, with approximately half of Xicor's sales coming from exports. Xicor products are supported by regional technical sales offices located in the USA, Europe, Japan and South Korea, and by independent sales representatives and electronic component distributors.
Xicor emphasizes the development of differentiated products incorporating its programmable technology which enables customers to rapidly bring to market products with improved features, efficiency and maintainability. To address the large market for undifferentiated EEPROMs, Xicor is also redesigning certain key popular products for cost reduction through smaller chip sizes. Xicor is a leading supplier of EEPROM and SerialFlash memory products and EEPOT® digitally controlled potentiometers.
Xicor's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Milpitas, California. Xicor has received the Underwriters Laboratories Certification of Compliance with the ISO 9001 quality standard and the joint automotive QS 9000 quality standard.
Xicor's product, corporate and financial information is readily accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com.
