Silicon Laboratories Announces First Clock Multiplier to Provide Any-Rate Frequency Synthesis.

Low 0.3 Picosecond Jitter Performance of the Si53xx Makes it Ideal for High-Performance Applications

AUSTIN, Texas -- Silicon Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq:SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced the industry's first jitter-attenuating clock multiplier IC that generates any output frequency from any input frequency with 0.3 picosecond jitter performance. The Si53xx Any-Rate Precision Clocks product family features nine devices leveraging Silicon Laboratories' proven DSPLL([R]) technology to offer the industry's broadest portfolio of reconfigurable, frequency-agile precision clock sources. The Si53xx any-rate capability addresses a wide range of high-performance applications including next-generation networking, telecommunications, wireless base stations, test and measurement, HDTV video and high-speed data acquisition.

The high-performance Si53xx is the first clock multiplier to generate any output frequency from 2 kHz to 945 MHz and select frequencies to 1.4 GHz from any input frequency between 2 kHz and 710 MHz. The ultra-low jitter generation of the Si53xx rivals traditional analog PLLs built discretely using expensive voltage-controlled crystal oscillators (VCXOs) or voltage-controlled SAW oscillators (VCSOs). The Si53xx family features an integrated loop filter with selectable bandwidths, allowing designers to change the loop bandwidth without changing components and enabling jitter performance optimization at the application level.

The Si53xx integrates a rich set of features on-chip, reducing the bill-of-materials (BOM) while optimizing jitter performance. The Si53xx includes an ultra-low phase noise, frequency-agile voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), loop filter, phase detector, divider and buffers. Traditional PLL designs require discrete components, creating noise entry points between circuit elements. By eliminating the noise entry points, the Si53xx simplifies the task of achieving ultra-low jitter performance. Additionally, the Si53xx family supports up to four clock inputs and five differential clock outputs, eliminating the need for external muxes and clock distribution buffers traditionally used in complex timing subsystems of modern communications equipment.

The Si53xx family simplifies the design and supply chain issues of modern timing architectures. Unlike traditional PLL implementations that only operate over a limited frequency range, the Si53xx family can be digitally reconfigured to operate over a broad range of frequencies, removing the need for multiple expensive VCXOs or VCSOs and easing design reuse. The Si53xx family also supports hitless switching to absorb phase differences between input clocks during a clock switchover. In addition, the Si53xx uses standard IC manufacturing technology, which can reduce lead times to four weeks compared with the long, unpredictable lead times associated with VCXO- and VSCO- based clock circuits.

"The any-rate capability of the Si53xx family broadens the addressable market of our timing solutions," said David Bresemann, vice president of Silicon Laboratories. "The combination of the any-rate precision clock family and our oscillator and voltage controlled oscillator products creates the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of frequency-flexible, low-jitter timing solutions."

Pricing and Availability

The Si53xx family consists of four any-rate clock multipliers (Si5322, Si5325, Si5365 and Si5367) and five any-rate clock multipliers/jitter attenuators (Si5316, Si5323, Si5326, Si5366 and Si5368). The Any-Rate Precision Clock family is available now with pricing from $12.10 to $72.45 in quantities of 1K.

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. is a leading designer of high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) for a broad range of applications. Silicon Laboratories' diverse portfolio of highly-integrated, patented solutions is developed by a world-class engineering team with decades of cumulative expertise in cutting-edge mixed-signal design. The company has design, engineering, marketing, sales and applications offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about Silicon Laboratories, please visit www.silabs.com.

Cautionary Language

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to editors: Si53xx product family, Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S" symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo, and the Silicon Labs logo are trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.