NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR INTRODUCES WORLD'S SMALLEST 1.8V RAIL-TO-RAIL INPUT/OUTPUT OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER FOR PORTABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS

May 3, 1999 - National Semiconductor Corporation? (NYSE: NSM) today announced the LMV921 , the first amplifier in National's popular LMV product line to operate at 1.8V with rail-to-rail input and output. The LMV921 is the latest member of a series of amplifiers packaged in the tiny SC-70 package, known as "Silicon Dust". Because of its ultra-low operating voltage, rail-to-rail input and output, and small size, the device is ideal for portable consumer applications such as cellular phones and pagers. "With the introduction of the LMV921, National is expanding the capabilities of its popular LMV series to meet the power requirements of a greater number of low-power portable product designs," said Carlos Sanchez, National's marketing manager for amplifiers. "The LMV921 combines National's leadership in packaging with its commitment to the consumer market's demand for low-voltage, low-cost ICs."

National guarantees the LMV921's 1.8V to 5V operation. With its low quiescent current of 150 microamps, the device extends the cell life of battery-operated portable products. It can also handle input voltage signals with amplitudes exceeding the supply voltages without distorting the output signal. Typically, the CMVR (common mode voltage range) can go 300 millivolts beyond the supply voltage, resulting in maximum dynamic input voltage.

Housed in the SC70 package, the LMV921 is the smallest available single operational amplifier. Its compact design allows designers to place the amplifier closer to the signal source in space-constrained products for greater signal integrity.

The LMV921 incorporates National's advanced sub-micron silicon-gate BiCMOS technology, which combines the speed of bipolar and the low power of CMOS, reducing size and cost.

Price and Availability
The LMV921M7 in the SC-70 package, or the LMV921M5 in the SOT23-5 package, are both priced at $.39 in quantities of 1000. The new amplifier will be available in production quantities in April, 1999. For more information on the LMV921, visit our website at http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LMV921.html, or contact National's Customer Response Group at 1-800-272-9959.

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 over $2 billion and 11,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.