SAN JOSE, California, June 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Solution Provides More Flexibility, Less Costly Option

Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched a new stand-alone 2.5Gbps laser diode driver (LDD) with integrated Automatic Power Control (APC) and a power monitoring feature to keep average optical power constant during temperature changes and over the lifetime of the laser. The SY88212L is also designed with high compliance voltage, allowing it to be DC-coupled to the laser to reduce external component count and power consumption. The SY88212L is a single-supply, 3.3V laser driver designed for datacom and telecom applications, including LAN and MAN with any data rates up to 2.5Gbps. Such applications include FC, GbE, SONET, OC3/12/24/48 and SDH, STM 1/4/8. The device is also well suited for SFF and SFP modules. The IC is currently available in volume and pricing starts at $3.00 for 1K quantity. Samples can now be ordered on line on Micrel's web site at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do.

"Micrel has been offering fiber optic module chipset solutions including the controllers, MIC3001/2. As the markets grow more rapidly and the demand for lower cost solutions increases, Micrel expands its LDD product portfolio by offering customers a high-performance, stand-alone laser driver with APC and power monitoring," noted Thomas Wong, vice president for high bandwidth products at Micrel. "This solution minimizes the number of external components and lowers the Bill Of Materials (BOM) cost, making Micrel's solution cost-effective and flexible."

The driver can deliver modulation current up to 85mA and bias current up to 70mA, and is suitable for both AC and DC-coupled laser interfaces due to its high compliance voltage. The SY88212L also features an APC fault indicator, TXenable/TXdisable for enabling/disabling the driver, and a power-monitoring pin, which monitors the current that is proportional to the sum of bias current and half of modulation current. It is available in a 24-pin (4mm x 4mm) MLF(R) package.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products. Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA, with regional sales and support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web: http://www.micrel.com.

Note: MLF is a registered trademark of Amkor Technology.

Web site: http://www.micrel.com

Julieanne DiBene, Marketing Communications of Micrel Inc., +1-408-474-1276, Julie.DiBene@Micrel.com