Press Release
California Micro Devices
Introduces a Breakthrough Technology and a New Family of Inductor Boost
LED Drivers for Wireless Handsets
PhotonIC™ CM93xx Family Based
on FlexBoost™ Delivers Unmatched Efficiency
MILPITAS, Calif., -- May 1, 2006
-- California
Micro Devices (NASDAQ: CAMD) today introduced FlexBoost™,
a breakthrough power saving technology, and four new products (CM93xx)
in its PhotonIC™ family of white LED (WLED) drivers for
wireless handset applications that are based on it. FlexBoost™ technology
allows designers to drive several asymmetrical strings of WLEDs, as well
as an OLED display, with the appropriate voltage on each channel using
a single chip and a single inductor. At a time when multimedia capabilities
such as gaming, video camcorder and imaging are becoming increasingly
popular resulting in growing demands on battery life, CMD’s FlexBoost™
architecture can improve efficiency by as much as 40 percent when driving
backlight displays and camera flash from a single WLED driver solution
at the lowest bill of materials cost and in the smallest footprint.
Product Features
The CM93xx family includes four inductor boost products based on FlexBoost™
technology. Their respective drive capabilities are summarized in the
following table:
| Product | Driving Capabilities |
| CM9330 | Three (asymmetrical) strings of WLEDs with FlexBoost™ using single inductor |
| CM9321 | Two (asymmetrical) strings of WLEDs + One channel for OLED panel with FlexBoost™ using single inductor |
| CM9320 | Two (asymmetrical) strings of WLEDs with FlexBoost™ using single inductor |
| CM9311 | One string of WLEDs + One channel for OLED panel with FlexBoost™ using single inductor |
Each of the products can operate with input voltages ranging from 2.7V to 6V. Current can be set independently for each output using an external resistor or can be controlled by an analog voltage and PWM input. The output voltage and current ripple are less than 1 percent. They operate at a 1MHz switching frequency, allowing the use of a smaller inductor, and feature input undervoltage lockout and output overvoltage protection.
FlexBoost™
Benefits
The CM93xx family utilizes the breakthrough FlexBoost™
technology that allows driving multiple asymmetrical WLED strings in the
most efficient way. Unlike existing boost WLED drivers, products based
on FlexBoost™ technology can supply the appropriate voltage
to each string instead of the highest voltage to all strings. A typical
example is using the CM9330 to drive one string for the main display backlight
with up to five WLEDs, a second string for three WLEDs and a third output
for a single WLED. The required voltages in this case are 18V, 11.2V and
4.2V, respectively. Instead of supplying 18V to all channels, the CM9321
supplies the appropriate voltage to each string, resulting in a significant
increase in efficiency.
Application &
Deliverables
Both product families are a perfect fit to drive backlight, keypad and
camera flash LED subsystems in the most efficient way by leveraging FlexBoost™
technology in a compact footprint and at the lowest bill of materials
cost. Reference design kits are available to customers to allow a rapid
evaluation of the advantages and benefits of this product portfolio.
Packaging, Pricing
and Availability
The CM9330 and CM9321 are housed in a low profile QFN16 package, and the
CM9320 and CM9311 in a 3mm x 3mm DFN10. All of the products described
are currently sampling and reference design kits are available. Pricing
ranges from $1.20 to $1.60 in 1,000 unit quantities. Production is scheduled
for Q2 2006.
About California Micro Devices Corporation
California Micro Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of application specific
analog semiconductor products for the mobile handset, personal computer and digital
consumer electronic markets. Key products include Application Specific Integrated
Passive™ (ASIP) devices and selected high value mixed
signal ICs. Detailed corporate and product information may be accessed at www.calmicro.com.
Application Specific Integrated Passive™,
ASIP™, FlexBoost™ and PhotonIC™
are trademarks of California Micro Devices. All other trademarks are property
of their respective owners.
