SAN JOSE, California, December 10 /PRNewswire/ --

Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth
communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched a tiny new high
performance, high PSRR, ultra-low dropout (ULDO(TM)) linear regulator family
with input voltage down to 1.6V for high efficiency portable devices such as
mobile phones, PDAs, portable media players (PMP), GPS and other portable
device applications. The MIC5308 is currently available in volume with
pricing starting at US$0.49 for 1K quantities. The MIC5309 is also currently
available in volume at US$0.53 in 1K quantities.

"Low input voltage and ultra-low dropout both equate to extended battery
life in portable systems by allowing designers to select a low voltage
secondary rail as the supply source. This, in turn, reduces the voltage drop
from input-to-output which increases efficiency," noted Andy Cowell, Micrel's
vice president of marketing. "Micrel's MIC5308/09 gives portable product
designers a new method for generating a low noise secondary voltage while
still maintaining high efficiency."

The MIC5308/09 family offers ultra-low dropout voltages of only
45mV@150mA while delivering up to 300mA of output current. The ultra-low
dropout and low VIN feature combination allows high efficiency power
conversion from low voltage supply rails commonly used in handhelds such as
1.8V. The MIC5308/09 family also offers more than 90db Power Supply Rejection
Ratio (PSRR), and exceptional transient performance while using a small tiny
and inexpensive 1uF ceramic output capacitor. In addition, this series
features micropower operation requiring only 23uA of quiescent current and
less than 2uA in shutdown enabling longer battery life in all operating
modes. The MIC5308/09 family comes in two package options; an ultra-thin
0.6mm, 1.6 x 1.6 mm 6-pin MLF(R) package for space-constrained applications
and the TSOT-23 package for more cost sensitive designs.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the
worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's products
include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high
performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical
layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of
enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and
computer products. Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer
fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA with regional sales and
support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout
the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an
extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. 
Web: http://www.micrel.com.

Note: MLF is a registered trademark of Amkor Technology. Hyper Light 
Load is a trademark of Micrel, Inc.

Web site: http://www.micrel.com