Intersil Releases Industry-leading Sub-0.5-Ohm Low-voltage Dual Analog Switch Targeted for Portable Equipment and Handheld Applications.

MILPITAS, Calif. -- New Switch Offers Industry's Lowest R(ON) and R(ON) Flatness with the Highest ESD Withstand Rating, Very Low Power Consumption and Ultra-Fast Switching

Intersil Corporation (Nasdaq:ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced a new high-performance dual switch that provides enhanced performance and reliability to replace currently available devices. The MightyMUX(TM) ISL84684 is a true bi-directional, ultra-low resistance, low-voltage, dual single-pole double throw (SPDT X 2) analog signal switch intended for use in cellphones, smartphones, PDAs and other portable battery-powered products. The ISL84684 has two independent switches, allowing it to replace two discrete SPDT devices where space is critical.

"Customers using competing switches can upgrade circuit performance by replacing them with Intersil's new ISL84684, which is pin-compatible with some existing switches. The ISL84684 provides lower R(ON), and better R(ON) flatness and R(ON) matching than existing competing devices. It offers significantly lower R(ON) at lower supply voltages, such as 1.8 V," said Mamoon Rashid, director of marketing for Intersil's Analog Solutions Products Group. "What's more, with a greater than 9 kV ESD withstand rating, this dual switch offers the industry's highest ESD withstand level of all competing sub-1-Ohm devices, which yields increased reliability in handheld use and significant added value to our customers."

The ISL84684 is a guaranteed break-before-make dual single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch IC that operates over a 1.65- to 3.6-V supply range, making it ideally suited for Alkaline, Nickel-Metal Hydride as well as Lithium-ion and Lithium Polymer battery-powered applications. The R(ON) conduction resistance of each switch is a very low 0.29 Ohms at 2.7 V and only 0.4 Ohms at 1.8 V, which reduces signal loss to improve audio output levels in battery powered handheld products. When operated from a 2.7-V supply, the ISL84684 switches have a typical R(ON) flatness and channel matching of 0.03 Ohms, making them ideal for use in low distortion audio paths such as MP3 players in Cell-Phones, and CD audio devices.

When operated from a nominal 3-V supply, the devices are 1.8-V logic compatible. Switching speed at a supply of 2.7 V is typically a very fast 14-ns turn-on and 6-ns turn-off, reducing switching noise. This is particularly important in headphone audio switching applications.

ISL84684 Technical Summary

--True break-before-make dual SPDT

--Wide single-supply voltage range of 1.65 to 3.6 V

--Industry-leading greater than 9-kV HBM ESD withstand voltage rating

--Industry's lowest R(ON) over full input range - 0.29 Ohms at 2.7 V, 0.4 Ohms at 1.8 V

--Industry-leading typical R(ON) flatness and channel matching of 0.03 Ohms at 2.7 V

--Ultra-fast switching - 14 ns turn-on, 6 ns turn-off typical with 2.7-V supply

--Very low power consumption - 0.75 uA max over full temperature and supply range

--10-lead MSOP packaging or ultra-small 3 X 3 mm 10-pad thin DFN 

--Pb-free available soon

--Drop-in performance upgrade from MAX4684 and MAX4685

ISL84684 Pricing and Availability

The ISL84684 is available now. The suggested resale price in 100 to 999-unit quantities is $1.00 for each ISL84684IR (TDFN) and $0.95 for each ISL84684IU (MSOP). ICs are available on tape and reel.

Additional information on these and other high-performance switch and multiplexer solutions can be obtained online from Intersil's Interface Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/switchmux

About Intersil

Intersil Corporation, a NASDAQ 100 Index company, is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company's products address three of the industry's fastest growing markets: flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC-DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's web site and career page at http://www.intersil.com.

This release may include "forward looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For information identifying economic, political, climatic, currency, regulatory, technological, competitive and some other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Intersil's Safe Harbor Forward Looking Statement disclaimer found at http://www.intersil.com/legal.asp, as well as Intersil's SEC filings as updated from time to time, found at http://www.sec.gov.

Intersil and MightyMUX are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.

All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.