SAN JOSE, California, September 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- ICs Aimed at Mass Market Handheld Applications Requiring Small 
Footprint and Low Cost

Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth
communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the MIC94070/1/2/3,
a series of high-side load switches that extend Micrel's industry-leading
family of high-side load switch products. The new devices are aimed at a wide
variety of cost effective, mass-market handheld, battery-powered consumer
devices, including cell phones, digital cameras and personal entertainment
consoles. The MIC94070/1/2/3 series is currently available in volume, with
pricing starting at US$0.23, for 1K quantities.

"Battery-powered consumer electronic products demand IC design solutions
that are both small and economical, particularly for handheld device
applications," said John Lee, Micrel's director of Mixed-Signal and RF
Products. "The MIC94070/1/2/3 series addresses the most challenging
requirements of today's mass market consumer devices by offering a 
footprint-conscious design with low component cost. This combination
gives designers the best of all worlds -- low price, small footprint, and
excellent performance."

The MIC94070/1/2/3 family compliments Micrel's industry-leading
MIC94060/1/2/3 high side load switch products. The original family addresses
high-end consumer devices such as high performance smart phones. The new ICs
now provide mass market consumer device manufacturers with a cost-effective
alternative that still features Micrel's high quality.

The MIC94070/1/2/3 all feature a typical RDSON of 120ohm. The devices
operate with inputs ranging from 1.7V to 5.5V. Each IC can be driven by a
mere 1.5V of logic, which is accomplished by incorporating a novel built-in
level shift circuitry that allows low voltage logic to control higher voltage
supplies. Battery time is greatly extended in portable applications due to
the low operating current of 2 micron A and shutdown current of less than
1 micron A. The MIC94070 and MIC94071 both have rapid turn-on, while the
MIC94072 and MIC94073 provide a slew rate controlled soft-start turn-on of
800 microns (typical) that prevents in-rush current. In addition, the
MIC94071 and MIC94073 provide an active load discharge circuit that insures
capacitive loads retain no charge when the main switch is in an OFF state.
The MIC94070/1/2/3 series are available housed in the thin 4-pin 1.2mm x
1.6mm MLF(R) and Teeny(TM) SC-70-6 packages.

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. Teeny is a
trademark of Micrel Inc.

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