NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR'S VIDEO CHANNEL CHIP SET OFFERS PRICE/PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE OVER HYBRID AND DISCRETE SOLUTIONS FOR XGA CRT MONITOR DESIGN

February 12, 1998 – National Semiconductor Corporation® today set a new price/performance standard for the video channel with the introduction of a 110MHz video preamp with on-screen display (OSD) and a companion triple-channel CRT driver. National's LM1279 video preamp and LM2407 CRT driver provide the ideal bandwidth for 14", 15" and 17" microprocessor-controlled CRT monitors with XGA resolution of 1024 X 768 and refresh rates of 85Hz and up.

"Monitor system designers will realize a significant cost savings over hybrid and discrete-based systems with this chip set," said Harry Inia, monitors marketing manager at National. "Considerable manufacturing and labor cost savings accrue from lower parts count, smaller PCB size, reduced inventory, and shorter design and test cycles."

LM1279 Video Preamp
To support the stringent cost targets of monitor applications, the LM1279 uses a small 20-pin package. Blanking and clamping circuits are combined, which further reduces system cost by eliminating one wire and connector going to the neckboard. Also, the LM1279 permits wide control over individual color channels. All DC control inputs offer high-input impedance and an operating range from 0V to 4V for easy interface to 5V DACs used in computer-controlled systems and digital-alignment systems. To improve reliability, the LM1279 has 3.5 kV (HBM) ESD protection.

Both the OSD inputs and the video/OSD switch accept standard TTL signals. The OSD section features three TTL inputs and a DC contrast control. Inputs for the OSD are internally processed to match the OSD logic low level to the video black level. Contrast adjustments are independent, allowing the user to set the desired contrast of the OSD window without affecting the video portion of the display. Each channel features independent-drive controls for color balance. The OSD input tracks the video signal's drive controls.

A spot killer is provided for CRT phosphor protection during power-down. The LM1279 also contains a blanking circuit that clamps the video output voltage during blanking to within 0.1V above ground. This feature provides blanking capability at the cathodes of the CRT.

LM2407 Triple Channel CRT Amplifier
The LM2407 triple channel CRT amplifier features 7.5nsec rise and fall time. Significantly lower power dissipation than other drivers allows use of a smaller heatsink, which reduces overall system cost. National's LM2407 is an ideal CRT driver for XGA applications capable of supporting scan frequencies up to 64 kHz.

The device uses the same pinout as other members of National's CRT driver family, making it possible for CRT designers to reuse previously designed PCBs, and significantly improving time-to-market. The LM2407's monolithic design incorporates improved circuit integration, which in turn increases monitor reliability. The device operates from power supplies ranging from +60 to +85V, and is housed in an 11-pin TO-220 package with a tab for attaching to a heat sink.

Price and Availability
The LM1279N is currently available in 20-pin DIP packages rated for operation over the commercial temperature range of 0°C to +70°C. When purchased in quantities of 1,000, the LM1279N is priced at $.80 each. The LM2407T is offered in an 11-pin TO-220 staggered lead package, and is priced at $3.00 each when purchased in quantities of 1000. 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.