SMSC Delivers Cost-Effective and Flexible Environmental Monitoring and Control Device for PCs and Embedded Systems; New Multi-Zone Fan Control and Hardware Monitoring IC Addresses Voltage and Temperature of Small Form Factor Systems.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 2003

In an effort to grow its presence in the analog design space for PC and embedded applications, Standard Microsystems Corporation (Nasdaq: SMSC) today announced the availability of its EMC6D102 Multi-Zone Fan Control Device with hardware monitoring and acoustic noise reduction features. The EMC6D102 provides fan control, voltage monitoring and power saving operating modes to protect today's high-heat, small form factor systems in PC and embedded designs. It is configured to function as central hardware monitoring and protection for microprocessor-based systems that require thermal management.

Today's hardware designer needs to reduce system cost wherever possible. By designing in the EMC6D102, a system manufacturer can reduce the number of fans required. The EMC6D102 enables one fan to be controlled by up to three thermal zones. This allows the fan to increase its airflow according to the hottest element among several in its airflow path.

In addition to flexible fan control, the EMC6D102 contains voltage monitors for five power supplies and temperature sensors to monitor three thermal zones, four tachometer inputs, three PWM outputs, two interrupts, and four VID pin inputs. Interrupts signal user-defined out-of-limit events for temperature, voltage, and fans via an SMBus interface.

The EMC6D102 is the newest addition to SMSC's Environmental Monitoring and Control (EMC) portfolio, which includes the EMC6D100 and EMC6D101 fan control devices.

According to Rob Stein, SMSC's vice president for Advanced I/O Products, "Across a broad spectrum of embedded and PC applications, our customers need to better manage thermal effects. The EMC6D102 lets them do just that. It's another demonstration of our commitment to delivering cost-effective, innovative mixed-signal solutions that help our customers effectively meet their design challenges."

Technical Information

The EMC6D102 is an Intel(R) Heceta6-compatible fan control device containing monitors for three thermal zones, five power supplies, and four VID inputs. It has algorithms for automatically controlling three fans in accordance with temperature. Upper and lower limits for the voltage and temperature monitoring are user-defined via an SMBus interface and out-of-limit events initiate interrupts that can be used as alert signals.

The fan control interface has four tachometer inputs and three PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) outputs. Each PWM output can be programmed for fan start temperature, minimum fan speed, the point at which the fan turns on 100 percent, and fan speed relationship to temperature. In addition, a PWM ramp rate control reduces the acoustic noise perceived during fan speed changes. PWM stretching settings allow the user to determine the number of tachometer samples contributing to each fan speed reading.

The temperature monitors provide one internal diode for ambient temperature measurement and two remote temperature sensors via thermal diode inputs. The remote thermal monitors are designed for use with inexpensive thermal diodes or may be used with a Pentium(R) substrate diode. This allows them to facilitate a wide variety of functions such as monitoring a graphics processor, DDR memory, or an alternate source relating to the stability of the system.

The five voltage monitors are optimized to receive 2.5V, 5V, 12V, and two standard processor voltage inputs. All monitored values and interrupt status registers are readily accessible through the SMBus, enabling easy implementation on both personal computer and embedded systems.

The EMC6D102 has several monitoring modes and settings that provide the user with significant power savings and advanced reliability options. Continuous and cycle monitoring modes determine the frequency with which monitored readings are taken. Sleep and shutdown modes also exist for lower power options. For advanced reliability, averaging settings allow the user to oversample and average the readings that are deposited in reading registers.

An interrupt feature identifies out-of-limit events to the system processor. These interrupts can be individually disabled for each monitored value.

Price, Package and Availability

The EMC6D102 is available in a 24-pin SSOP package and is priced at $2.20 (U.S. list price) in production quantities.

Samples of the EMC6D102 are available immediately. SMSC also provides a full suite of demonstration and development tools - documentation, evaluation boards and utility software -as well as world-class field application engineering support.

The EMC6D102 data sheet, as well as technical information on SMSC's other products, is available on SMSC's web site at http://www.smsc.com. Please contact your local SMSC sales office for more information.

About SMSC:

SMSC provides Real World Connectivity(TM) solutions for high-speed communication and computing applications. Leveraging a broad intellectual property portfolio, the company thrives at the intersection of software, silicon and customized OEM applications. Through the integration of its leading-edge digital, mixed-signal and analog functionality and software expertise, SMSC delivers complete solutions that monitor and manage computing systems and connect peripherals to computers and to one another.

The company is the world's leading provider of Advanced Input/Output (I/O) hardware and software solutions ranging from legacy PC I/O to leading-edge system management functionality. Through high-speed serial interfaces, including USB 2.0 and embedded Ethernet, SMSC delivers faster and higher-bandwidth peripheral connections for a wide range of products such as memory card readers, mass storage devices, digital cameras and keyboards and enables innovative high-speed networking functionality for consumer electronics, set-top boxes, printers, car navigation systems, cellular base stations, and more.

SMSC, a fabless semiconductor supplier, is based in Hauppauge, New York and maintains offices worldwide, including locations in North America, Taiwan, Japan, Europe and China. SMSC operates engineering design centers in Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Hauppauge, NY and Austin, TX. More information about the Company is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.smsc.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this announcement are forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial and operating results that involve risks and uncertainties. These include the timely development and market acceptance of new products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the effect of changing economic conditions in domestic and international markets; changes in customer order patterns, including loss of key customers, order cancellations or reduced bookings; and excess or obsolete inventory and variations in inventory valuation, among others. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations and may not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or divestitures.

SMSC competes in the semiconductor industry, which has historically been characterized by intense competition, rapid technological change, cyclical market patterns, price erosion and periods of mismatched supply and demand. In addition, sales of many of the Company's products depend largely on sales of personal computers and peripheral devices, and reductions in the rate of growth of the PC and Embedded markets could adversely affect its operating results. SMSC conducts business outside the United States and is subject to tariff and import regulations and currency fluctuations, which may have an effect on its business. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon the information available to SMSC at this time. Such information is subject to change, and we will not necessarily inform you of such changes, except as required by law. These and other risks and uncertainties, including potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, are detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled "Other Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results" for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Standard Microsystems and SMSC are registered trademarks, and Real World Connectivity is a trademark, of Standard Microsystems Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Product names and company names are trademarks of their respective holders.