CATALYST SEMICONDUCTOR EXPANDS MIXED SIGNAL OFFERING WITH DC-DC CONVERTER

Catalyst Semiconductor today announced its entry into the DC-to-DC converter power market with a charge-pump voltage converter. The CAT660 with 100mA output capability can be configured to invert or double the input voltage. It targets low-cost embedded control, instrumentation, medical, wireless and LCD display markets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
David Gillooly
Director of Marketing
Telephone: 408.542.1080
Email: david.gillooly@catsemi.com
   

CATALYST SEMICONDUCTOR EXPANDS MIXED SIGNAL OFFERING WITH DC-DC CONVERTER
•   TDFN Package: 0.8mm maximum height
•   Green" Package Option

Sunnyvale, Calif. (February 25, 2003) -- Catalyst Semiconductor (Nasdaq: CATS) today announced its entry into the DC-to-DC converter power market with a charge-pump voltage converter. The CAT660 with 100mA output capability can be configured to invert or double the input voltage. It targets low-cost embedded control, instrumentation, medical, wireless and LCD display markets.

"The CAT660 will be followed by higher frequency devices as well as programmable versions based on the full capabilities of Catalysts EEPROM process capability," said Catalyst Director of Marketing David Gillooly. We are the first to offer a 660" with a Green" package option, an important buying consideration in Japan and Europe, and Catalyst is the first supplier to offer a 0.8mm thin TDFN package. The leadless TDFN package will be very popular in handheld and portable communication markets."

EMI (electromagnetic interference) levels are reduced by the charge pump architecture which avoids inductors and their magnetic fields. Only two external capacitors are needed for operation. The capacitors can be sized according to the devices selectable operating frequency of 10kHz or 80kHz. Input voltage range is 1.5V to 5.5V. The output voltage is unregulated. Designed to replace devices from Maxim Integrated Products and Linear Technology, Catalysts low cost process can give high-volume customers substantial cost savings.
Price, Packages and Availability

The CAT660 is offered in 8-pin DIP and SO packages as well as the 8-pad TDFN package that features a 0.8mm maximum height. Green" devices, which are both lead free and halogen free, are available as an option. Commercial, 0 degree centigrade to 70 degree centigrade, and extended industrial, -40 degree centigrade to 85 degree centigrade, temperature range devices are offered. Prices start at $0.98 in 1,000 piece quantities. Devices are available for sampling now with production volume scheduled for the second quarter of 2003.

Data sheets are available at www.catalyst-semiconductor.com.

About Catalyst Semiconductor
Founded in 1985, Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The Company is a developer and marketer of programmable products used in telecommunications, networking systems, computation, automotive, industrial and consumer markets. The Company designs and markets a broad range of programmable products including Flash Memories, Parallel and Serial EEPROMs with I2C, SPI and Microwire interfaces, NVRAMs, Digitally Programmable Potentiometers, Microcontroller Supervisory circuits and other programmable Mixed Signal products. Typical applications for the Companys products include optical networks, modems, wireless LANs, network cards, PC BIOS, DIMM modules, cellular telephones, digital satellite box receivers, set-top boxes and Internet routers. Catalyst's Quality Management System is ISO 9001 certified. Additional information about Catalyst Semiconductor is available on the Companys web site at www.catalyst semiconductor.com.

Except for those statements that report the Companys historical results, the statements being made are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Certain Factors That May Affect the Companys Future Results of Operations" listed from time to time in Catalysts SEC reports including but not limited to the report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2002, and to the reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended July 31, 2002, October 31, 2002, and January 31, 2003.

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Editor Notes:
1.   Trademark notices: DPP is a trademark of Catalyst Semiconductor. I2C is a registered trademark of Philips Corporation. SPI is a trademark of Motorola, Inc. Microwire is a trademark of National Semiconductor.
2.   Electronic images are available at www.catalyst-semiconductor.com/editor.