Power Integrations Expands Off-Line IC Family For Low Power Applications Requiring Tight Output Regulation.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Energy Saving LinkSwitch(R)-HF Cost-Effectively Replaces Inefficient Linear Transformer and Discrete Designs

Power Integrations, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWI), the leading supplier of high-voltage analog integrated circuits used in power conversion, announced today the availability of a new product family enabling cost-effective switching power supplies for low power applications requiring tight output regulation. LinkSwitch-HF expands the company's current LinkSwitch product line of power conversion ICs. The devices offer designers a low cost and very energy-efficient replacement for regulated linear transformer and discrete power supply designs.

LinkSwitch-HF product is targeted towards applications such as battery chargers and appliances that require fault protection and accurate control of output voltage and current. By eliminating the separate bias winding on the power supply transformer, system component cost is reduced compared to competitive switcher designs. Additionally, switching characteristics of the IC's integrated high voltage MOSFET have been optimized to reduce electro-magnetic interference (EMI), allowing conformance to international emission standards. A power supply design with very low line-frequency leakage current is possible, allowing safe use of a metal-encased mobile phone during battery charging.

LinkSwitch-HF integrates a 700 V power MOSFET, oscillator with simple on/off control, high voltage start-up, cycle-by-cycle current limit, hysteretic thermal shutdown, and auto-restart circuitry onto a single CMOS chip. Tight tolerances and negligible temperature variation on key parameters ease design and lower system cost. A 200 kHz switching frequency allows transformer designs with very low flux density, practically eliminating audible noise in the on/off control, while frequency jittering minimizes EMI filter cost.

The new product family also incorporates the company's EcoSmart(R) technology, dramatically reducing energy waste in standby and no-load conditions. In a standard AC-DC flyback configuration, a LinkSwitch-HF design will consume less than 300 mW while in no-load, enabling conformance to all current and proposed worldwide standby and no-load energy efficiency guidelines. Comparable discrete and other integrated switching power supply designs typically require extra components at additional cost to meet those guidelines.

Applications for the new product family include chargers for cell phones, cordless phones, digital cameras, PDAs, and MP3/portable audio devices, as well as electronic controls for home appliances and industrial and other auxiliary power supplies.

Design support includes a data sheet, an application note (AN-38), a Reference Design Kit (DAK-73) containing an operational 2.3 W universal input AC-DC power supply and product samples, and the company's power supply design software program, PI Expert(TM).

LinkSwitch-HF is available in plastic through-hole DIP-8 and surface-mountable SMD-8 packages. Pricing in 1000 piece quantities for the LNK353P, a 4 W part in a DIP-8 package, is $0.47 each. The LNK354P, a 5 W part, is priced at $0.50 each. Small quantities of each type are available from factory stock, with production quantities available 4 weeks ARO.

About Power Integrations

Power Integrations, Inc. is the leading supplier of high-voltage analog integrated circuits used in power conversion. The company's breakthrough integrated-circuit technology enables compact, energy-efficient power supplies in a wide range of electronic products, in both AC-DC and DC-DC applications. The company's EcoSmart energy-efficiency technology, which dramatically reduces energy waste, has saved consumers and businesses around the world more than an estimated $740 million on their electricity bills since its introduction in 1998. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.powerint.com. For information on global energy-efficiency standards and EcoSmart solutions, visit the Power Integrations Green Room at www.powerint.com/greenroom.