(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 17, 2002 ) California Micro Devices (Nasdaq: CAMD) today announced the CM3103, the latest member of its industry-leading SmartORTM power regulator family. The CM3103 is an ideal solution for network interface cards that use two power sources, a 5V main supply and a 3.3V auxiliary (standby) supply. The device integrates a 5V to 3.3V 400 mA regulator with a 3.3V Vaux switch, providing a constant 3.3V output when dynamically switching between the 5V main supply or 3.3 Vaux supply. The CM3103 is designed to provide a complete power management solution to enable Instantly Available PC (IAPC) functionality, such as "Wake-on-LAN", for advanced communications cards such as gigabit Ethernet and 802.11 wireless LAN.

Smooth Power Transition

Most advanced PC communications cards, such as 10/100 Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet, and wireless LAN cards, are designed to support IAPC capability. IAPC allows a PC to be put into "sleep mode", and then wake from an external event, such as an MIS administrator remotely waking a user's PC over the network to upgrade software and perform a system backup. Implementing IAPC or Wake-on-LAN functionality requires special power regulator circuitry, because when a PC goes into sleep mode, it turns off its main 5V power rail to conserve power. In order to keep the networking card active when the main PC power rail goes down, the card must draw power from an alternate source. In most PCs, this is provided by one of two alternate "sleep" power rails - a 3.3V auxiliary rail and/or a 5V standby rail. California Micro Devices' SmartORTM products are designed to provide a glitch-free transition between the main and standby rails when the PC is switching modes. By constantly monitoring the main power supply and dynamically switching between power supplies as needed, the CM3103 integrates a complete IAPC power management solution in a single chip.

"The CM3103 and other SmartOR regulator products are ideal power management solutions for the rapidly emerging gigabit NIC and wireless LAN markets," said Joe Salvador, director of marketing for computing products at California Micro Devices. "Because networking chipsets can vary in the amount of power they require, we have developed an extensive family of SmartOR regulators, capable of supplying from 250 mA to 1.5A, meeting the needs of next-generation networking products as well as our traditional 10/100/1000 Ethernet and ADSL customers."

According to IDC, 220 million PC Ethernet NIC and wireless LAN cards are expected to ship between 2003 and 2005, with Gigabit Ethernet and wireless LAN experiencing the strongest growth.

Product Features

The CM3103 SmartOR regulator, with a fully integrated Vaux switch, is capable of delivering up to 400mA continuously at 3.3V. Key features include:

Continuous 3.3V output from two inputs, with dynamic switching and glitch-free transitions
Complete power management solution
Vcc regulator supplies 400mA output
Integrated switch has very low RDS(ON) 0.25Ù
Built-in hysteresis when selecting input supplies
Foldback current limiting protection
Thermal overload shutdown protection
8-pin thermally-enhanced SOIC package
The thermally enhanced fused lead-frame package provides improved thermal dissipation while retaining the small footprint of the 8-pin SOIC package.

Full NIC Power Product Range

California Micro Devices supplies a range of products with various output currents to meet the requirements of different chipsets, ranging from 250mA to 1.5A. They are offered with either single or dual 5V inputs combined with either a 3.3V Vaux drive signal or integrated Vaux switch. Products include:


Product Category
Power


Dual Power Switch:CMPWR025
500 mA


5Vin to 3.3Vout Regulator with 3.3Vaux Drive:CMPWR130CMPWR150
300 mA500 mA


5Vin to 3.3Vout Regulator with 3.3Vaux Switch:CMPWR101CM3103
250 mA400 mA


Dual Input 5Vin and 5VSB to 3.3Vout Regulator with Vaux Drive:CMPWR280
1.5 A


Dual Input 5Vin and 5VSB to 3.3Vout Regulator with Vaux Switch:CMPWR330
400 mA



Price and Availability

TheCM3103 is currently in production and is available now. Pricing is $0.52 each at 10KU quantities.

About California Micro Devices

California Micro Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of application-specific analog semiconductor products for the mobile, computing, and high-brightness LED lighting markets. Key products include application-specific integrated passive (ASIPTM) devices and power management ICs as well as silicon submounts for high brightness LEDs. Detailed corporate and product information may be accessed at www.calmicro.com.

ASIPTM and Smart OrTM are trademarks of California Micro Devices. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Produced for California Micro Devices

Contact:

Mary Jane Reiter
Phone: 1 408 725-1239
mjreiter@sbcglobal.net


Joe Salvador Director of Marketing, Computing Products
Phone: 1 408 934-3114
joes@calmicro.com

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Contact Information:
California Micro Devices Corporation
Joseph Nchor
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