Catalyst Semiconductor Announces New 15V, 128 Tap, Digitally Programmable Potentiometer; CAT5133 Offers Low-Noise, Stable, Reliable Alternative to DACs and Mechanical Potentiometers in Consumer, Industrial and Medical Applications.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATS), a supplier of analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory semiconductors, has expanded its family of Digitally Programmable Potentiometers (DPP(TM)) with the CAT5133; a 15-volt, increment/decrement interface, 128-tap (7-bit) device designed for calibration and control functions in high-voltage consumer, industrial and medical applications.

The CAT5133 is the second device in Catalyst's high-voltage family of digitally programmable potentiometers to be targeted at the needs of Vcom adjustment applications to improve LCD display performance. The CAT5132 was Catalyst's first device to address Vcom adjustment, offering an I2C interface, while the CAT5133 offers an increment/decrement interface.

A general purpose linear digital potentiometer, the CAT5133 inherently provides a lower noise, more versatile alternative to traditional digital potentiometers, which are prone to external environmental noise conditions. Additionally, instead of a charge pump, the device has a separate input for an analog supply up to 15V. This provides the high voltage bias needed for the potentiometer terminals and eliminates the noise associated with charge pumps.

The CAT5133 digitally programmable potentiometer features on-chip, non-volatile, EEPROM memory, which allows designers to calibrate once, retaining the setting even if power is lost. The wiper position can be preset to any position on the device and, on power-up, the wiper will go to the preset position, which is stored in the on-chip EEPROM. DAC-based approaches typically require external memory and additional interconnects resulting in additional board real estate and added system costs.

Since the CAT5133 is silicon-based, it is insensitive to mechanical vibrations, shock and oxidation, making it a higher reliability alternative to mechanical potentiometers across most environmental conditions. The device gives designers the added benefit of implementing a user-friendly, up/down control interface similar to the control interface of a mechanical potentiometer.

Product Features

--128 resistor taps

--Increment/decrement interface for potentiometer control and memory storage

--Power supply: 2.7V to 5.5V

--V+ (analog voltage supply) operation from +8V to +15V

--Wiper output voltages from 0V to +15V

--Standby current less than 15 microA

--Industrial Operating Temperature: -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C

--Non-volatile memory storage for wiper settings

--Automatic recall of saved wiper settings at power-up

--10-pin MSOP package

--100% RoHS-compliant Green Package

Price and Green Package Availability

The CAT5133 is offered in a RoHS-compliant, environment friendly "green" 10-pin MSOP package. The ordering code is CAT5133ZI-10-G and pricing for 1,000 piece quantities is $0.88. Samples and evaluation kits are available now. Projected lead-times for production quantities are currently 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

About Catalyst Semiconductor

Founded in 1985, Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The Company produces analog and mixed signal products, in addition to an extensive range of nonvolatile memories. The analog and mixed-signal product lines include Digitally Programmable Potentiometers (DPP(TM)), Microcontroller Supervisory circuits, White and Color LED Drivers and DC/DC converters. The memory product lines consist of Serial and Parallel EEPROMs, Flash and NVRAM. Catalyst devices are used in telecommunications, networking systems, computation, automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Typical applications include LCD displays, automotive instrumentation, optical networks, modems, wireless LANs, network cards, DIMM modules, cellular telephones, digital satellite box receivers, set-top boxes and Internet routers. Catalyst's Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2000 certified. All Catalyst products are available in "green" lead- and halogen-free versions with full RoHS compliance.

For additional information about Catalyst Semiconductor, visit our website at: www.catsemi.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include lead-time projections and product availability statements. Risks can include manufacturing process interruptions at our own and our foundry and other vendors' facilities. Additionally, market fluctuations and cycles and increasing or decreasing customer demand can affect lead times, availability, pricing and margins. Other uncertainties, risks and changes include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the forward-looking statements 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. This includes, but is not limited to, the report on the Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2005 and Forms 10-Q for the subsequent three fiscal quarters.

Editor Notes:

1. Trademark notices: DPP is a trademark of Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.

2. Electronic images are available at: www.catsemi.com/editor.