Wave Issue 9802 3/23/98 Article 3-01

***Chips

National Semiconductor Announces the Smallest Integrated
Circuit
(March 10)

National Semiconductor Corporation has introduced a new
microchip, so small that the packaged device is about the
size of a flake of coarse-ground pepper. The tiny package
houses an operational amplifier which is used as a basic
building block in a wide variety of electronic systems
ranging from cellular phones to full-size computers. The
chip, identified as the LMV321, is the industry's smallest
ever operational amplifier and is the first integrated
circuit to be packaged in the miniature SC70-5 package. This
package is only 2.0 x 2.1 millimeters (about 3/32-inch
square) and has previously been used only to house
"discrete" devices such as single transistors. The small
package size is important for use in portable systems, where
the tiny device can be inserted in half the space needed
previously. The new chip also operates at voltages from 2.7
to 5 volts, which reduces power consumption and extends
battery life. These characteristics make the device suited
for use in cellular phones, cordless phones and pagers.

The LMV321 is in production and is priced at 27 cents each
in quantities of 1,000 in the SC70-5 package.

www.national.com/pf/LM/LMV321.html