Micrel Gives Consumer Market A Jolt With Cost Savings For DC-To-DC Converters

Micrel Gives Consumer Market A Jolt With Cost Savings For DC-To-DC Converters

Company Addresses Designers Thirst For Smaller Footprint, Higher Operating/Transient Voltage For Popular 5V BUS

San Jose, Calif., Sept. 15, 2008 — Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq:MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today gave the consumer market a boost in cost savings and enhanced voltage with its new Non-Synchronous PWM buck regulator. Operating at 2 MHz, the MIC4724 is the latest addition to the popular MIC472X family of small footprint, non-synchronous buck regulators. It addresses a designer’s need for higher operating/transient voltage for the popular 5V bus, while providing a smaller footprint and substantial cost savings. The MIC4724 targets wired and wireless broadband communications, printers, HD set top boxes, computing peripherals and low power FPGAs where total solution cost is critical. The MIC4724 is available in volume with pricing starting at $1.72 for 1K quantities. Samples can now be ordered on line on Micrel’s web site at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do

“In today’s multiple-rail world, designers have an insatiable need for cost-effective power solutions addressing different voltage requirements,” noted John T. Lee, director Non Portable Power Micrel. “The enhanced voltage rating of the MIC4724 allows customers to stay with an inexpensive low voltage process. The improved voltage rating, along with the smaller footprint and low BOM cost, makes the device ideal for today’s growing broadband applications.”

The MIC4724 features ultra-fast operation and a proprietary internal compensation which allows for extremely fast transient response and the use of the smallest and most cost-effective LC components in their class. A low resistance integrated p-channel MOSFET enables the chip to deliver up to 3Amps, where designers can realize more than 94 percent efficiency. The output voltage can be adjusted down to 1V and can operate with a maximum duty cycle of 100 percent for use in low dropout conditions. The P-MOSFET also eliminates the need for a sense resistor to provide a current limit, further reducing the external component count. The MIC4724 is available in a small footprint, highly reliable and thermally enhanced Pb-free eMSOP-10 package.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company’s products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products. Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA with regional sales and support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web: http://www.micrel.com.