California Micro Devices Integrates EMI Filtering With ESD Protection in Single-Chip Solutions for Mobile Electronics.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2002

New ASIP(TM) Families Feature Space Saving Chip Scale Packaging To

Meet The Needs Of Wireless And Mobile Device Manufacturers

California Micro Devices (Nasdaq:CAMD) today announced new families of single-chip, Application Specific Integrated Passive (ASIP(TM)) devices that integrate electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for wireless handsets, PDAs and other mobile consumer electronic applications. Offered in compact Chip Scale Packaging (CSP), these new chip families enable mobile device manufacturers to meet specific EMI filtering and ESD protection needs for a variety of audio, dataport, USB, LCD display and keyboard applications. The highly integrated, single-chip CSP devices replace numerous discrete passive devices allowing potential customers the opportunity to significantly reduce the total number of devices required to implement a complete solution, saving additional board space and contributing to a lower overall solution cost. The devices are especially well suited to wireless and mobile device manufacturers who benefit from more efficient board usage.

"Due to the demands of added functionality, the average number of discrete passives in cell phones has increased from 250 in 1995 to 440 in 2001. The proliferation of discrete passives creates pressure on the form factor of the design and can lead to increases in direct and indirect manufacturing costs," said senior analyst Shawn Wood of iSuppli. "IPDs offer mass production efficiencies and associated cost reductions to cell phone manufacturers trying to add increased functionality in a smaller overall package."

"The integration level of the devices offer significant value to our OEM customers by reducing the part count typically required to implement such solutions with discretes," said Kyle Baker, vice president of marketing. "By helping our customers achieve meaningful part count reduction, we enable them to secure additional system cost reductions. Savings accrue as a result of lowering the overhead costs associated with managing multiple devices and vendors and reducing manufacturing insertion costs."

Audio Applications

The CSPEMI20xA product family provides integrated EMI filtering with ESD protection on a single-chip CSP for audio applications including microphone and speaker jacks. The EMI filter rejects high frequency signals in the 800MHz to 2.7GHz range at -30dB while allowing lower frequencies to pass through. The device's ESD protection circuitry protects the audio ports from ESD damage up to +/-8kV per IEC61000-4-2 Level 4 specification and ensures uninterrupted operation of the mobile device. The CSPEMI200A has four EMI filters with ESD protection plus one additional ESD protection diode. The CSPEMI201A and CSPEMI202A have two EMI filters with ESD protection. The complex integration and CSP format of these solutions allow OEM customers to reduce board space requirements by 86 percent versus a similar discrete, packaged solution.

Data and USB Port Applications

The CSPEMI306A and CSPEMI307A products provide EMI filtering with ESD protection for data port and USB port applications up to +/-15kV which exceeds the IEC61000-4-2 Level 4 specification. The low pass EMI filter in pi style (C-R-C) format rejects high frequency signals above 900 MHz at -30dB and allows low frequency signals to pass through. CSPEMI306A contains 6 EMI filters with ESD protection and is used to protect the data port and filter out unwanted frequencies. CSPEMI307A provides 4 EMI filters with ESD protection for the data ports and 4 channels of ESD protection diodes to protect the USB port from ESD damage. The complex integration and CSP format of these solutions allow OEM customers to reduce board space requirements by 89 percent versus a similar discrete, packaged solution.

Improved ESD Protection for Additional Applications

The company also announced the CSPESD304, a 4-channel ESD protection array in CSP format. The product is an ideal solution for ESD protection for I/O ports, LCD display, keypad, and button applications. Mobile devices are handled regularly and easily prone to ESD strikes which has been a concern for device manufacturers. The CSPESD304 addresses these concerns by providing protection for +/-15kV contact discharge, thereby exceeding IEC61000-4-2 Level 4 specifications. The complex integration and CSP format allows OEM customers to reduce board space requirements by 48 percent versus a similar discrete, packaged solution.

Pricing and Availability

The pricing of the CSPEMI200A, 201A and 202A is set in 1000 piece quantities of $.72, $.49 and $.49. The CSPEMI306A & CSPEMI307A are sold in 1000 pieces quantities starting at a price point of $.49. The CSPESD304 is sold in 1000 piece quantities at $.31. All the devices are sampling now with volume production targeted for Q2 2002.

About California Micro Devices Corporation

California Micro Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of Application Specific Integrated Passive (ASIP(TM)) networks and related analog semiconductors. Within the company's broad product line are highly integrated solutions that ensure signal integrity, EMI (electromagnetic interference) filtering, ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection and smart power management for a broad spectrum of computing, communications, consumer, medical and lighting applications. Detailed corporate and product information may be accessed at www.calmicro.com.