Fairchild Semiconductor (South Portland, ME) has reduced its expected revenues for first-quarter 2001 due to continuing inventory corrections by customers in response to slower worldwide demand. "While our orders in February increased compared to January, we continue to see less robust demand than projected, especially from the communications and computing segments, and the distribution and […]
Sipex Corp. (Billerica, MA) unveiled the SP6650, a new step-down switching dc/dc regulator suitable for three- to four-cell alkaline or lithium-ion applications....
Philips Semiconductor (Netherlands) has launched the BF1201 to BF1204 N-channel, dual-gate signal MOSFETs suitable for application in TV and VCR tuners requiring a 3V to 9V supply voltage. The BF1201 is optimized for cross-modulation, and the BF1202 for noise. The parts are enhancement-type devices, with the source and substrate interconnected. Integrated diodes between gates and […]
Intersil Holding Corp. (Irvine, CA) announced that revenue and earnings for the first quarter will be lower than previously expected. In addition, Intersil announced that it has received authorization from its board of directors to repurchase up to $50.0 million of the company's stock. Intersil cites the slowing demand in the semiconductor industry, and the […]
International Rectifier (IR, El Segundo, CA) announced the availability of its Lighting Ballast Control IC Designer's Manual for 2001. The new manual includes reference designs, application notes and design tips to assist in the creation of more efficient dimming and non-dimming ballasts. Techniques covered in the manual include variable frequency drive, passive power-factor correction, crest […]
Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. (Canada) announced that it has successfully completed initial testing of its next-generation power inverter. Results show that the 4kW dc/ac inverter has a peak efficiency of 96 percent at 20 percent of full load. The test showed that as power was increased, the efficiency dropped only slightly, maintaining an average of […]
General Semiconductor Inc. (Melville, NY) has updated its business outlook for the first quarter of 2001. The company reports that, as a result of the continued slowdown in customers' markets and excess inventory still in the channels, first quarter revenues are expected to be 14 to 16 percent below the $119.9 million reported in the […]
International Rectifier (IR, El Segundo, CA) released two new TO-220-packaged HEXFET power MOSFETs, the IRFB42N20D and the IRF3703. The new devices can...
Maxim Integrated Products (Sunnyvale, CA) introduced the MAX1836/MAX1837, a new series of step-down dc/dc converters with an internal 24V P-channel MOSFET switch. They come in 6-pin SOT23 packages and are suitable for applications including I/O, audio and video supplies in notebook and handheld systems powered by up to four lithium-ion batteries and ac/dc adaptors. The […]
IXYS Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) announced the introduction of the IXDD408 and IXDD414, new CMOS high-speed MOSFET/IGBT driver ICs. With respective current drive capability of 8A and 14A, the ICs are suitable for controlling high-current, power MOSFETs and IGBTs and medium-current MOSFET and IGBT modules. The new driver ICs feature a tri-state output. With the […]
Sierra-KD Components (Carson City, NV), a part of Maxwell Technologies Inc. (San Diego, CA), announced that it has signed an agreement with TriStar ECA (Houston, TX) for distribution of Sierra-KD's high-voltage and high-temperature capacitor products for the oil exploration industry. "We believe this new partnership will enable us to improve lead times by having TriStar […]
National Semiconductor Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) announced that its third-quarter earnings beat Wall Street's expectations. However, the company considerably lowered its estimates for the fourth quarter. For the quarter ended February 25, 2001, National Semiconductor reported net income of $39.2 million, or $0.21 per share, on $475.6 million in sales. This compares with earnings of […]
ON Semiconductor (Phoenix, AZ) has announced that it will build a 6-inch wafer fabrication plant at Leshan-Phoenix Semiconductor Co. Ltd., its Chinese joint venture. The company will sign a memorandum of understanding to invest $100 million for the wafer fabrication plant. Total approved investment before the planned investment in Leshan-Phoenix is $280 million. "China is […]
AVX Corp. (Myrtle Beach, SC) has expanded its line of passive component products with the addition of Ultrathin Chip Capacitors. Introduced to complement the standard chip capacitors, the Ultrathins are available in case sizes 0805 and 1206, with voltage ratings ranging from 10Vdc to 50Vdc. They are suited for applications in which component height considerations […]
Bell Labs, the research and development division of Lucent Technologies (Murray Hill, NJ), has developed what they claim is the world's first...