| Barry Wiley
Vice President, Marketing
(408) 542-1114
Email Barry Wiley
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--April 19, 2004--Catalyst Semiconductor,
Inc. (Nasdaq:CATS - News), expanded its white Light Emitting Diode
(LED) product family with the introduction of the CAT37, an inductor-based
white LED driver boost converter. Designed for color LCD and keypad
backlighting, the CAT37 delivers a regulated output current at a
constant switching frequency of 1.2MHz, that allows the device to
be used with very small value external inductor and ceramic capacitors.
The CAT37 has been optimized to drive up to four white LEDs. Its
power efficiency of over 80% and shutdown current of less than 1microAmp
provide optimal battery run time in hand-held applications, while
its low 2.5V input voltage operation makes it ideal for use in single
cell Li-Ion and multi-cell Alkaline/NiMH battery powered devices.
The CAT37 delivers a constant current to series-connected LEDs,
ensuring uniform brightness regardless of variations in the LEDs
forward voltage drops. Its high accuracy feedback voltage, regulated
at 95mV, ensures high frequency and provides reliable brightness
control even when partially dimmed to current levels of 6 to 8mA.
The CAT37 can also safely withstand an open output circuit. The
combination of the CAT37's high efficiency, low noise, and low profile
5-lead SOT23 and TDFN packages make it the ideal LED driver for
any handheld application requiring up to four white LEDs for LCD
backlighting, such as cell phones and digital cameras.
"Catalyst is focused on the solid state illumination marketplace,"
said Barry Wiley, Vice President of Analog and Mixed-Signal Marketing
and Sales. "The use of color LCD screens is an irreversible
growing trend in the marketplace, e.g., according to IC Insights,
the use of color screens in cell phones alone will grow from 160
million units in 2003 to a forecasted 365 million units in 2005.
Other illumination applications in which Catalyst is an active supplier
are digital cameras, where in addition to backlighting, Catalyst
also supplies digitally programmable potentiometers (DPP(TM)), for
contrast control of LCD screens. The illumination application is
a major future market for Catalyst."
CAT37 White LED Driver Applications
Target applications for White LED Drivers include backlighting of
LCD displays in PDAs, portable MP3 players, cellular phones, handheld
terminals, and digital cameras. In addition, white LEDs are used
for backlighting keypads, camera flash equipment and illumination
in automotive and aircraft markets.
Key CAT37 Features
- Low quiescent ground current (0.5mA typical)
- Power efficiency over 80%
- Adjustable output current (up to 40mA)
- High frequency 1.2MHz operation
- Input voltage operation down to 2.5V
- Low resistance (0.5 ohm) power switch
- Drives up to 4 white LEDs in series
- Shutdown current less than 1microAmp
- Load fault protection against open-circuits
- Low value external components
- Low profile 5-lead SOT23 (1mm max) and TDFN (0.8mm) package
Packages and Availability
The CAT37 White LED Driver Boost Converter is available
in low profile 5-lead SOT23 and thin TDFN environment friendly "green"
packages, that are halogen and lead free. Samples and production
quantities are available now.
About Catalyst Semiconductor
Founded in 1985, Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. is headquartered
in Sunnyvale, California. The Company designs and markets a broad
range of programmable products including Flash Memories, Serial
and Parallel EEPROMs with I2C, SPI and Microwire interfaces, NVRAM,
Digitally Programmable Potentiometers, Microcontroller Supervisory
circuits and other programmable Mixed Signal products. Catalyst
products are used in telecommunications, networking systems, computation,
automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Typical applications
include optical networks, modems, wireless LANs, network cards,
PC BIOS, DIMM modules, cellular telephones, digital satellite box
receivers, set-top boxes and Internet routers. Catalyst's Quality
Management System is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For additional information
about Catalyst Semiconductor, visit our web site at www.catalyst-semiconductor.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for those statements that report the Company's
historical results, the statements being made are forward-looking
statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements is contained under the heading
"Certain Factors That May Affect the Company's Future Results
of Operations" listed from time-to-time in Catalyst's SEC reports
including, but not limited to, the report on the Form 10-K for the
year ended April 30, 2003, and more recent Forms 10-Q.
Editor Notes:
1. Trademark notices: DPP is a trademark of Catalyst Semiconductor.
I2C is a registered trademark of Philips Corporation. SPI is a trademark
of Motorola, Inc.
2. The "2" in I2C is superscript.
3. Electronic images are available at www.catalyst-semiconductor.com/editor.
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