PowerWise Amplifier Provides Over-Voltage Protection When Driving High-Speed A/D Converters for Automotive Safety Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – October 22, 2008 – National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) today introduced the industry’s first wideband 900 MHz fully differential amplifier to include a programmable output limiting clamp for protecting analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and other downstream circuitry from over-voltage events. The amplifier’s integrated clamp provides improved distortion, higher bandwidth and clamping accuracy compared with existing amplifiers that must use external discrete clamping circuits to provide the same protection.

The LMH6553 operates over the -40 degrees C to 125 degrees C temperature range and is well-suited for processing wide dynamic-range signals in automotive safety applications, including collision avoidance, lane departure and back-up warning systems. A member of National’s PowerWise® family of energy-efficient products, the LMH6553 features 900 MHz unity-gain bandwidth while operating on only 29 mA of supply current. This results in an industry-leading power-to-performance ratio of 32 uA per MHz.

Additionally, National provides designers with a variety of signal path solutions by pairing the LMH6553 with one of more than 40 differential input 8-bit to 14-bit ADCs featuring sampling rates up to 1 giga samples per second (GSPS). These ADCs include the ADC08D1000, ADC10080, ADC12C170 and ADC14DS105.

Key Features – LMH6553 Amplifier with Output Limiting Clamp
The LMH6553 operates across a wide supply range from single 4.5V up to a split +/- 6V supply. The LMH6553 provides 4 kV of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and its adjustable output clamp has a single reference control that sets the internal high and low clamp levels versus the multiple reference control levels required with external discrete clamps. Additionally, the LMH6553 features a 600 picosecond (ps) clamp overdrive recovery time and guaranteed +/- 53 mV clamp accuracy, allowing clamp levels to be accurately set relative to the desired signal.

The LMH6553’s -0.1 mV/degree C clamp-accuracy temperature coefficient provides excellent clamp level stability and enables signals to swing to within 22 mV of the clamp level before distortion degrades by 3 dB. The device’s current feedback architecture coupled with low input voltage noise of 1.2 nV/sqrt Hz and low input current noise of 13.6 pA/sqrt Hz delivers lower output noise at higher gain settings than other competitive differential amplifiers. The LMH6553’s external gain set resistors and the output common-mode control allow it to be configured for a variety of gains in AC- and DC-coupled ADC driving applications.

About National’s Amplifier Portfolio
Specializing in high-performance amplifiers and comparators, National Semiconductor offers a complete portfolio of op amps addressing the high-speed, precision, low-voltage and low-power markets. The company has a long history of setting industry standards in amplifiers and continues this trend with product releases on National’s advanced VIP10 bipolar and VIP50 BiCMOS processes. National also leads the industry in packaging technology with its revolutionary Silicon Dust™ and micro SMD packaging technologies. For more information on National’s amplifier products, visit www.national.com/amplifiers.

Pricing and Availability
The LMH6553 is priced at $3.35 each in 1,000-unit quantities. The device is available now in both 8-pin PSOP and 8-pin LLP® packages. For more information, or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LMH6553.html.

National’s WEBENCH® Amplifiers Designer online tool supports a large selection of amplifiers. To explore these solutions, visit www.national.com/webench. To learn more about designing with amplifiers, visit our library at www.national.com/onlineseminar/#amps.

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor creates energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Its PowerWise® products enable systems that consume less power, extend battery life and generate less heat. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.89 billion for fiscal 2008 which ended May 25, 2008. Additional company and product information is available at www.national.com.