FREMONT, Calif. -- April 26, 1999 -- With the introduction today of a new integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) chip by Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS), digital power meter manufacturers will be able to implement the most accurate, cost-effective meter solutions ever available for measuring residential electric power usage.

The new Crystal® "power meter on-a-chip" (CS5460), facilitates the transition from widely-used mechanical meters that yield limited data, to electronic meters that provide extensive information on customer energy usage. Furthermore, the new mixed-signal chip outperforms higher-priced electronic meter solutions, often based on costly custom chips or requiring many discrete components.

In the face of electric industry deregulation and the need for continuous improvement in customer service, the new electronic meters promise utility companies better access to information needed to establish more flexible customer rate plans. Moreover, they encourage off-peak period energy consumption and efficient energy resource management. The highly integrated chip, currently optimized for the residential market, can also be configured for use in commercial and industrial meters.

"By using a small geometry process to produce the new CS5460 we have succeeded in densely packing an unprecedented level of performance and calculation power into a very compact, lower cost chip," said Frank den Breejen, business development manager for Cirrus Logic's Crystal Industrial & Communication Division. "In our view, it's a watershed product for electric industry deregulation -- as it enables power meter makers to design better products, utilities to obtain more useful data and customers to choose from more competitive rates."

Simplifies Residential Meter Design

The highly integrated CS5460 consists of two precision delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters, on-chip reference, high-speed power calculation functions and a standard bi-directional serial interface that connects to a microcontroller. Key to the compact, cost-effective design is Cirrus Logic's mixed-signal expertise in integrating high performance analog and high-speed digital functions on a single chip, thereby minimizing the need for external components.

The new power meter chip is fully featured to provide all of the functions essential for measuring residential energy usage. It allows designers the flexibility to choose the optimum sensor -- a shunt or, when isolation is required, a current transformer. In addition, less costly microcontrollers can be used because complex calculations are performed on-chip. Besides reducing the demand on the microcontroller, the new chip also decreases the programming effort resulting in faster time-to-market.

Highest Accuracy in the Industry

The CS5460 provides a measurement accuracy of 0.1 percent over full operating temperature range, supporting Class 0.2 designs, affording the most precise electrical power readings available -- substantially reducing the need for periodic meter checks and recalibration. Utilities must now periodically test and recalibrate meters over their lifecycle to assure the meter is within specification. The chip's accuracy allows manufacturers to design meters that will continue to perform within specification over a longer period of time, lowering the need for frequent test and recalibration.

In addition, meters based on the CS5460 can be fully digitally calibrated, assuring an unparalleled accuracy over a wide temperature range while using readily available low cost sensors. This software-based fine-tuning eliminates the expensive manual adjustments required for mechanical meters.

For added reliability, the new chip incorporates a power supply monitor to ensure proper power levels. If power drops below a user-defined level, the CS5460 alerts the microcontroller to save the information in on-chip registers. The monitor enables the electric utility to proactively determine when a power outage or brownout has occurred using the communication capability of the meter. Moreover, the power supply monitor is fully integrated to eliminate the need for a separate component and related development time and cost.

Pricing and Availability

The CS5460 is available in 24-pin Shrink Small Outline Packages (SSOP) and is priced at $4.00 each in quantities of 1,000. Samples and evaluation boards with software are available now with volume production scheduled for August 1999.

Worldwide Customer Support

Cirrus Logic offers comprehensive worldwide support to assist customer product development and manufacturing. The CS5460 sample device, datasheet, and evaluation board with software are immediately available. Applications engineering support, including free confidential schematic and layout reviews may be requested toll-free via 1-800-888-5016, by email from powermeter@crystal.cirrus.com or from your local distributor.

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of precision linear circuits and advanced mixed-signal chip solutions. The company's products, sold under its own name and the Crystal product brand, enable system-level applications in mass storage, audio and precision data conversion. Additional information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.

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Note to editors: Cirrus Logic and Crystal are registered trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other names noted herein could be trademarks of their respective holders.