Clare (IXYS) Introduces Industry’s First Monolithic High-Voltage Isolated Analog Switch Array

BEVERLY, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Clare, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ:IXYS – News) today announced the availability of the CPC7514Z Quad High–Voltage Isolated Analog Switch Array for use in industrial controls, instrumentation, automatic test equipment and telecom applications. The CPC7514Z integrated circuit (IC) features four independently controlled, 320V bidirectional normally open (1-Form-A) relays actuated by latched TTL logic-level control signals. The monolithic silicon, which features high voltage DMOS structures and low voltage CMOS circuitry, is biased by a 3.3V power supply eliminating the requirement for external high-voltage supplies for proper operation. Switch-output to logic-input isolation is +/- 320V.

Designed to provide flexible single-ended or differential access to high voltage networks, the CPC7514Z may also be configured as two sets of matched pair switches for improved differential performance. The switch pairs have an on-resistance matching specification of 0.8 Ohm maximum over the industrial temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees Celsius.

The individual switches have active current limiting protection for fault events which limits the low frequency currents to 200mA. Under serious high power fault conditions, which may raise the IC junction temperature, a thermal shutdown protection feature is provided. Between the initial current-limit and the thermal-shutdown events, a secondary, low-level, current-limit mode is provided to limit the power dissipation of the switches. Protection continues until the fault is removed.

“With the combination of our Zilog MCUs as the digital brain, our customers can achieve full digital control for advanced power management and applications as listed below,” said Dr. Nathan Zommer, CEO of IXYS Corporation.

These products are fabricated using Clare’s High Voltage SOI process which has been used for many years in central office telecom equipment requiring long operational life. In addition to telecom, the CPC7514Z may be used as four normally open relays in automatic test equipment (ATE), industrial controls, and battery monitoring/charging equipment and instrumentation applications. The device may also interface directly with 110V(RMS) AC in switch applications replacing banks of electromechanical relays (EMR) and driver circuitry for enhanced system integration. Many applications will benefit from the elimination of a costly DC/DC converter block that is generally incorporated to bias the external EMRs.

About Clare and IXYS Corporation

Clare, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of solid state relays and high voltage integrated circuits, is a wholly owned subsidiary of IXYS Corporation. IXYS Corporation develops and markets primarily high performance power semiconductor devices that are used in controlling and converting electrical power efficiently in power systems for the telecommunication internet infrastructure, motor drives, medical systems, solar energy, wind energy, electrical generators and transportation. IXYS also serves its markets with a combination of digital and analog integrated circuits, RF power products and power subsystems including application-specific, embedded system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for the industrial and consumer markets manufactured by its wholly owned subsidiary, Zilog, Inc. Additional information about Clare, IXYS and Zilog may be found at www.clare.com, www.ixys.com and www.zilog.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including the performance, rating, availability, reliability and suitability of products for various applications, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of IXYS to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.