Catalyst Launches Alternative to Industry-Standard '604 LED Driver With Improved Average Efficiency.

CAT3604V Quad-Mode[TM] Fractional Charge Pump Drives up to Four LEDs

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATS) a supplier of analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory semiconductors launched its newest Quad-Mode[TM] fractional charge pump LED driver, the CAT3604V - a four-channel LED driver, which provides an alternative to the industry-standard '604 with similar functionality and the added benefits of Catalyst's patented Quad-Mode switching architecture, including improved average efficiency.

Quad-Mode technology delivers the high efficiency levels normally associated with inductor-based LED drivers, while eliminating the associated high-profile inductors and unwanted EMI. Most charge pump LED drivers today offer three modes of operation corresponding to the ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage: 1x, 1.5x and 2x. The Quad-Mode architecture of the CAT3604V adds a fourth mode of operation, 1.33x, to deliver the higher average efficiency, without the need for the additional capacitor required by all existing four-mode charge pumps. The 1.33x fractional operating mode also reduces the input switching currents seen at the battery, minimizing the overall supply noise - a critical parameter in portable devices such as cell phones.

The new CAT3604V is a four-channel charge pump with a PWM dimming interface and channel diagnostics, which include automatic detection for both short and open LED channel conditions to ensure the device maintains the highest efficiency level in all operating modes.

The CAT3604V joins the CAT3636 six-channel, CAT3644 four-channel and CAT3643 three-channel, 1-wire EZDim[TM] products in Catalyst's Quad-Mode family of LED drivers.

Product Features

* Patented Quad-Mode[TM] charge pump switching architecture

* '604-compatible with higher average efficiency

* Fourth charge pump mode achieves 1.33x boost mode with only 2 flying capacitors

* Power efficiency up to 92 percent

* Drives up to 4 LEDs at 25mA each

* PWM dimming interface

* Fully protected

* Packaging: 16-pad TQFN, 4mm x 4mm

Price and Availability

The CAT3604V LED driver is priced at $0.48 each in 10,000 piece quantities. Samples and evaluation boards are also available. Projected lead-time for production quantities is currently 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

About Quad-Mode[TM]

Catalyst's patented Quad-Mode adaptive fractional charge pumps take LED driver performance to a new level by offering a 10 percent efficiency improvement and up to 65 percent smaller packaging (compared to three mode charge pumps), without the need for an additional capacitor, and with no price premium. The Quad-Mode switching architecture delivers efficiency levels as high as 92 percent, with a lifetime average efficiency of 84 percent, yet saves significant board space and costs.

About Catalyst Semiconductor

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Catalyst Semiconductor designs and markets analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory products, including Digitally Programmable Potentiometers (DPP[TM]), white and color LED drivers, DC/DC converters, LDO regulators, voltage supervisors, bus expanders, serial and parallel EEPROMs, Flash and NVRAM. Many of Catalyst's products incorporate the Company's Quantum Charge Programmable[TM] technology, to deliver Adaptive Analog[TM] products, which offer a new level of customer flexibility, lower power and smaller die size. Catalyst products are used in telecommunications, computer, automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Typical applications include LCD displays, automotive lighting, optical networks, printers, modems, wireless LANs, network cards, DIMM modules, cellular telephones, navigation systems, set-top boxes and Internet routers. www.catsemi.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Catalyst's LED driver lead times and product availability, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Some examples of these risks and uncertainties include interruptions in our, or our foundries' or subcontractors' manufacturing processes, as well as fluctuations in customer demand and changes in market supply. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements may be found under the heading "Certain Factors That May Affect the Company's Future Results of Operations" listed periodically in reports Catalyst files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include, but are not limited to, Catalyst's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports filed on Form 10-Q. Catalyst disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.

Editor Notes:

1) Trademark notices: Adaptive Analog[TM], DPP[TM], EZDim[TM], Quad-Mode[TM] and Quantum Charge Programmable[TM] are trademarks of Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.