NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY'S LOWEST COST LOW-POWER 8-BIT A/D CONVERTERS

March 9, 1999 - National Semiconductor Corporation® (NYSE:NSM) today introduced a pair of upgraded low-power 8-bit analog-to-digital converters at the industry's lowest cost. The ADC08831 single-channel A/D converter and ADC08832 dual-channel A/D converter dissipate just 8.5 microwatts (typical) from a single +5V supply when operating at a 2MHz clock rate. Moreover, they offer a 20% cost advantage over competitive parts, which makes it feasible to move the A/D converter function outside of the processor or microcontroller. This gives designers the extra flexibility they need to enhance overall system accuracy.

Available in several small packages, including MSOP-8, the new devices accommodate input voltage spans as small as 1V. Because of their small size, low power and auto shutdown features, the ADC08831/2 are well suited for a variety of handheld battery-operated communication and industrial applications. "This new offering is small, fast and accurate, and it's from the volume supply leader," said Seamus Coyle, National's strategic marketing manager. "It's a unique A/D converter that combines great performance with a new low price," he added.

The ADC08831 and ADC08832 use a single comparator structure for converting the input voltage with a successive approximation routine. The serial communication format, consisting of a serial data link with the controlling processor, allows the integration of many functions in a small package. It also eliminates the transmission of low-level analog signals by locating the converter right at the analog signal source, facilitating transmission of highly noise-immune digital data back to the host processor. The I/O is a 3-wire interface compatible with the MICROWIRE™ and SPI standards. It easily interfaces with standard shift registers or microprocessors.

Price and Availability
The ADC08831 and ADC08832 are now available in MSOP-8 packages (ADC08831IMM and ADC08832IMM), SO-8 (ADC08831IM and ADC08832IM), wide-body SO-14 (ADC08831IWM and ADC08832IWM), or standard 8-pin DIP packages (ADC08831IN and ADC08832IN). Pricing for all packages is $.95 each in 1000-unit quantities.

For more information on the ADC08831 or the ADC08832, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.national.com/pf/AD/ADC08831.html or http://www.national.com/pf/AD/ADC08832.html.

National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National has annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion and 11,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.