National Semiconductor Introduces High-Output Boomer?Audio Amplifier for Battery-Powered Systems

March 31, 1998 -- Designed to deliver high output from low voltage supplies, the LM4882 is the latest addition to family of Boomer™ audio amplifiers from National Semiconductor Corporation®. A compact, low-cost solution for mono, single-ended load (SEL) designs, the LM4882 is ideal for battery powered audio systems found in cellular phones, PDAs and laptop computers. The ultra-small device, housed in an 8-pin mini small outline package (MSOP), occupies only half the space of similar products in standard SO-8 packages.

"The LM4882 is clearly the most compact, most efficient and lowest cost solution for single-ended load designs," said Bob Ghaffari, National's senior audio marketing manager. "It offers an alternative to more costly bridged-tied loads or bulky discrete circuits that are often overkill, particularly in audio applications for portable products, such as the ringers in cellular phones," he noted.

The LM4882 typically generates 270mW (RL-8 ohms, THD=1%) of output power in a single-ended output mode, while consuming a minimal amount of supply current. At 10% THD (total harmonic distortion), it generates 325mW output into an 8 ohm load. The device operates from a 2.4V to 5.5V power supply and produces less than 0.1% total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) when generating 85mW (RL=32 ohms).

During normal operation, the LM4882 draws only 2 mA (typ) quiescent current at 5V and 1.2mA (typ) at 3V. A power-saving shut-down/mute mode reduces consumption to 0.5 microamp (typ) at 5V and just 0.3 microamp (typ) at 3V, extending the operating time of battery-powered systems. Operating temperature range is ?40 degrees C to +85 degrees C.

Like other recent Boomer audio amplifiers from National, the LM4882 features circuitry to suppress the "pops and clicks" often associated with power turn-on and turn-off. In addition, the LM4882 operates without the aid of bootstrap capacitors or snubber networks. The product's ultra-small MSOP-8 footprint, combined with a minimal number of external components, greatly simplifies overall system design, saves board space and lowers manufacturing costs.

The LM4882 is currently available in the MSOP-8 or SOIC-8 package option. In quantities of 1000, the LM4882MM (MSOP) is priced at $.70. The LM4882M (SOIC) is priced at $.60.

National Semiconductor Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, produces system-on-a-chip silicon solutions for the information highway, based on its leadership in analog and mixed signal technologies. National is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and focuses on the communications, personal systems and consumer markets. National has annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion and 13,000 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.