New IC Solution Ideal for Driving Up to 10 White LEDs

San Jose, Calif., June 28, 2005 — Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq:MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the MIC2297, a powerful new high voltage 40V PWM Boost Regulator. This chip, optimized for driving up to 10 LEDs in series, offers an innovative brightness control feature that minimizes noise and EMI. This allows for an adjustable output current proportional to an applied analog DC voltage or high-speed digital PWM signal. White LEDs are widely used in PDAs, GPS systems, Smart Phones, PIC PCs, Digital Cameras, IP phones and LED flashlights. The IC is available in volume and pricing starts at $1.33 for 1K quantity.

“Consumers continue to demand crisper resolution and brighter screens on all their electronic and hand-held devices,” noted Ralf Muenster, Micrel’s Director of Marketing for Power Products. “The MIC2297 offers the highest levels of brightness and clarity possible with the lowest power consumption with its 1uA shutdown current, an ideal combination for the market’s most demanding electronic devices.”

The MIC2297 is a 600 KHz PWM boost-switching regulator optimized for driving a large number of backlight LEDs in series for backlight applications. It offers a powerful internal 40V switch and has a guaranteed switch current of 1.2A. With a 2.5V to 10V wide input voltage range and PWM and DAC brightness control, the IC ensures a high level of brightness while eliminating several external components. In addition, it is available in one of the industry’s smallest form factors, a tiny, lead-free, 2.5mm x 2.5mm MLF™ -10L packaging option.

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 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.