Catalyst Semiconductor's High Voltage Digital Potentiometer Improves Performance of LCD Displays.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATS), a leading supplier of high performance analog/mixed-signal solutions and nonvolatile memory, today expanded its family of Digital Programmable Potentiometers (DPP(TM)) with the introduction of its first high voltage DPP. The CAT5132 is Catalyst Semiconductor's first DPP to be designed for applications requiring up to 15 volts on the potentiometer terminals. Specifically targeted at calibration functions in high voltage environments, the CAT5132 has a separate input for an analog supply which provides the high voltage bias for the potentiometer terminals. The potentiometer is controlled via a 2-wire, I2C compatible bus interface, which allows for adjusting the digital potentiometer's 128 (or 7 bit) wiper positions with or without saving the current position in an EEPROM. This general purpose linear digital potentiometer is available in three standard resistance values: 10K, 50K and 100K ohms.

The CAT5132 is targeted toward many applications that require a potentiometer to operate with terminal voltages of up to 15 volts. One of the more unique applications of these higher voltage DPPs will be adjusting the VCOM values used to improve performance of LCD displays. Other applications include LED Brightness Control, LCD contrast adjustments, volume control, gain adjustment and mechanical trim potentiometer replacement.

"The introduction of these high voltage potentiometers will significantly expand the number of applications that can be addressed using digital potentiometers while simplifying the design requirements of applications that need to adjust signals up to 15 volts," said Jerry Miller, Product Marketing Manager. "Additionally, by using a separate high voltage analog input from the system power supply for biasing purposes (as opposed to an internal charge pump to generate the bias voltage), the CAT5132 maintains the low noise characteristics which are always an important design concern," he concluded.

Product Features

--Less than 15 microampere Standby Supply Current

--Wide potentiometer operation up to 15V

--Glitch-less switching between resistor taps

--Power-On Recall to last saved position

--2-Wire, I2C compatible Serial Interface

--Resistance Values: 10K ohms, 50K ohms and 100K ohms

Applications

--LCD display VCOM calibration

--LED brightness control

--Volume control

--Line impedance matching

--Mechanical potentiometer replacement

--Gain adjustment

Price and Green Package Availability

The CAT5132 is available in a 10-lead MSOP package; price in 1,000 piece quantities is $0.88. The device is available in an environmentally friendly "green" package that is halogen- and lead-free with full RoHS compliance. Green packages are available with Sn lead finish and NiPdAu lead finish. Samples and production quantities are available now.

About Catalyst Semiconductor

Founded in 1985, Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The Company is a leading supplier of high performance analog/mixed-signal solutions and nonvolatile memory products used in automotive, aircraft, telecommunications, computation, industrial and consumer markets. The Company designs and markets a broad range of analog/mixed-signal products such as LED Drivers, DC-DC Converters, GPI/O Expanders, Digitally Programmable Potentiometers (DPP(TM)), Microcontroller Supervisory circuits and other analog/mixed-signal products. Programmable products include Serial and Parallel EEPROMs with I2C, SPI and Microwire interfaces, as well as NVRAM and low density Flash Memories. Typical applications include LCD displays, digital cameras, cell phones, automotive instrumentation, modems, wireless LANs, network cards, DIMM modules, 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 website 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, 2005.

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. Microwire is a trademark of National Semiconductor Corporation.

2. The "2" in I2C is superscript.

3. Electronic images are available at: www.catalyst-semiconductor.com/editor.