amp with +0dB overload
(MAX3864)
18
Analog Switches/Multiplexers
Low R
ON
analog switches optimized for ±5V applications
(MAX467579)
18
8:1 and dual 4:1 analog muxes have 3.5 R
ON
(MAX4638/39)
19
Amplifiers and Comparators
Clickless/popless stereo headphone driver achieves >90dB PSRR at 22kHz
(MAX4298)
19
180MHz, dual-supply op amps are 16-bit accurate
(MAX443033)
19
Fan-Speed Regulators
Tiny ICs monitor and control fan speed
(MAX6650/51)
19
Filter ICs
Dual, universal, switched-capacitor filters save space and power
(MAX7490/91)
20
Power-Management ICs
SOT23 LCD bias supplies deliver up to 28V
(MAX1605/06)
20
High-voltage 36V DC-DC step-down controllers in µMAX
(MAX1744/45)
20
1MHz, low-voltage step-down regulators include synchronous rectification
(MAX1742/1842/43)
20
Battery Management ICs
Li+ battery chargers with internal power switch deliver 1.5A
(MAX1757/58)
21
Input-current-limited battery charger is 0.7% accurate
(MAX1772)
21
Display-Driver ICs
CCFL backlight controllers have wide brightness range
(MAX1739/1839)
21
Interface ICs
Isolated RS-422/RS-485 transceiver in a surface-mount package
(MAX3157)
22
3V, 1mA multiprotocol interfaces
(MAX3160/61/62)
22
LVDS in SOT23 achieves >250ps output-pulse skew
(MAX911013)
22
Supervisory ICs
SOT23, low-power µP supervisors with battery backup
(MAX636164)
22
Wireless ICs
2.8V single-supply, cellular-band linear power amplifier
(MAX2251)
23
Complete dual-band quadrature transmitters
(MAX2366/67/68)
23
Low-noise SiGe amplifier in UCSP package has variable IIP3
(MAX2374)
23
Industry-first, 3.5GHz SiGe LNA provides high linearity
(MAX2645)
23
and application flexibility
Volume Forty-One MAXIM REPORTS RECORD REVENUES AND EARNINGS
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2001
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., (MXIM) reported record net revenues of $285.1 million for its fiscal first quarter
ending September 23, 2000, a 58.3% increase over the $180.0 million reported for the same quarter a year ago. Net
income increased to a record $93.3 million in the first quarter, compared to $58.4 million last year, a 59.8% increase.
Diluted earnings per share were $0.29 for the first quarter, a 52.6% increase over the $0.19 reported for the same period
a year ago.
During the quarter, cash and short-term investments increased by $71.8 million after paying $95.5 million for
1,445,000 shares of the Companys common stock, $7.1 million for properties and facilities, and $30.3 million for wafer
fab and test equipment. Accounts receivable decreased by $2.7 million to $144.5 million, while inventories increased
$5.4 million to $64.0 million during the quarter.
Gross margin for the first quarter increased to 70.5%, compared to 70.1% in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year.
Research and development expense was $46.7 million or 16.4% of net revenues in the first quarter, compared to
$45.3 million or 17.6% of net revenues in the fourth quarter. During the quarter, the Company recorded a writedown,
primarily of equipment, of $14.9 million to cost of goods sold and $3.5 million to research and development expense.
Additionally, the Company recorded a $3.0 million charge to selling, general and administrative expense related to tech-
nology licensing matters.
The Company recorded an expense in the first quarter of approximately $3.7 million in Medicare taxes on
employees realized stock option gains, compared to the fourth quarter expense of $2.4 million. Prior to the third quarter
of fiscal 2000, these tax payments were recorded within stockholders equity as an offset against the proceeds received
from the exercise of stock options.
First quarter bookings were $339 million. This was above the Companys estimate of customer consumption for
the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Turns orders received in the quarter were $98 million, compared to $108 million
received in the prior quarter (turns orders are customer orders that are for delivery within the same quarter and may result
in revenue within the same quarter if the Company has available inventory that matches those orders).
First quarter ending backlog shippable within the next 12 months was approximately $443 million, including
approximately $353 million requested for shipment in the second quarter of fiscal 2001. The Companys fourth quarter
ending backlog shippable within the next 12 months was approximately $420 million, including approximately
$314 million that was requested for shipment in the first quarter. All of these backlog numbers have been adjusted to be
net of cancellations and estimated future U.S. distribution ship and debit pricing adjustments.
Jack Gifford, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the results: During the first
quarter, we reached record revenues and earnings levels. Our balance sheet remains strong, with cash and short-term
investments increasing over $70 million during the quarter. Annualized return on average stockholders equity of 32.3%
is one of the highest in the industry. New product introductions for the first quarter of our product introduction year were
above our plan.
Mr. Gifford continued: First quarter bookings moderated to a level closer to but significantly above estimated end
market consumption for our products. On a related subject, I am often asked about where the industry is in the cycle.
My answer is that companies like Maxim focus relatively little on short-term purchasing patterns affected by inventory
accumulation or shortage (which can often contribute to the cause of the cycles in question), but much more on the correct-
ness of our product market targeting and the long-term success of our products in these chosen growth product markets.
These are the key factors that have determined our growth rates for the last 15 years and that will, I believe, determine
them in the future. Although bookings may fluctuate in the short term due to ordering patterns, we believe that customer
acceptance of Maxim products is strong, and our expectations for fiscal 2001 and our future growth remain unchanged.
News Briefs Proper layout
and component
selection control
EMI
Most portable devices include a regulator or other form of
power supply, and the lower supply voltages associated
with smaller lithography ICs have mandated these power
circuits in many nonportable devices as well. Although not
fully understood by many designers, the trade-offs among
different types of regulators and power supplies can have
a major effect on battery life, compliance with EMI/EMC
regulations, and even the basic operation of a product
under design. The following overview covers the mecha-
nisms and physical principles governing the generation
and propagation of electrical noise in power supplies.
Voltage regulators
The most common power converter is the voltage
regulator. It accepts a voltage that varies over a given
range and generates an output voltage that does not vary.
Regulators comprise two main categories: switching
types and all others, mainly the linear and shunt types.
Unlike switching regulators, linear and shunt types are
limited because their output voltage must remain less
than the input voltage. Also, the efficiency of most
switching regulators is better than that of an equivalent
linear or shunt regulator. Yet, the low noise and
simplicity of linear/shunt types makes an attractive alter-
native to switching regulators.
The simplest type of voltage regulator is a shunt
regulator, which adjusts current through a resistor to
drop the input voltage to a regulated output level. Zener
diodes function similarly, but power dissipation in a
zener is high, and its load regulation (change in output
voltage with change in load current) is poor. Some shunt
regulators let you set the regulation voltage with a
voltage divider, but those types usually appear as
building blocks in more complex regulators or power
supplies. In general, shunt regulators are appropriate for
low-power systems in which the variation of load
current is small. This narrow application range can be
expanded, however, by adding an active pass element
(usually a bipolar transistor) that transforms the shunt
into a linear regulator.
Linear voltage regulators
Linear voltage regulators use an active pass element
(bipolar or MOSFET) to drop the input voltage down to
the regulated output voltage. Among these devices, the
low-dropout (LDO) types have become popular in the
last decade. Dropout refers to the minimum difference
(between input and output voltage) that sustains regula-
tion. Dropout voltages as high as 1V have been called
LDO, but 100mV to 300mV is more typical.
Because a linear regulators input current is approxi-
mately equal to its output current, its efficiency (output
power divided by input power) is a function of the
output/input voltage ratio. Thus, dropout is important
because lower dropout means higher efficiency. If input
voltage is much higher than output voltage, however, or
if it varies widely, then the maximum efficiency is
difficult to achieve. Another function of LDO regulators
(to be discussed) is to serve as a barrier to the noise
generated by a switching regulator. In that role, the LDO
regulators low-dropout characteristic improves the
circuits overall efficiency.
Switching regulators
If the performance of a linear or shunt regulator is not
adequate for the application, then the designer must turn
to a switching regulator. However, along with improved
performance come the drawbacks of larger size and cost,
greater sensitivity to (and generation of) electrical noise,
and a general increase in complexity.
Noise generated by a switching regulator or power
supply can emerge through conduction or