National Semiconductor Introduces Industry’s Lowest Nanopower Op Amp

PowerWise LPV521 Extends Battery Life by Consuming Less than 560 Nanowatts

A new nanopower operational amplifier (op amp) from National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) provides the industry’s lowest power consumption at 552 nanowatts (nW), with guaranteed operation down to 1.6V. The PowerWise® LPV521 extends battery life in portable equipment and low power applications including wireless remote sensors, power-line monitoring, and micropower oxygen and gas sensors.

The LPV521 features a supply voltage range from 1.6V to 5.5V with a maximum supply current of 0.4 uA. Its wide-input common-mode voltage range accepts input signals 100 mV beyond each rail, enabling direct connection to several sensor types. In addition, the LPV521’s maximum 1 mV input offset voltage (Vos) and 3.5 uV per degree C of input offset voltage drift (TCVos) enable accurate and stable measurement for both high-side and low-side current sensing.

The LPV521 is the world’s only nanopower op amp equipped with electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression filters to reduce unwanted radio frequency (RF) interference from external sources. This interference is emitted from a myriad of wireless devices such as cell phones, motion sensors and RFID readers.

The LPV521 is built on National’s proprietary VIP50 BiCMOS process technology, which enables optimal performance while maximizing power efficiency. The op amp offers an industry-leading power-to-performance ratio of 65 uA per MHz.

Pricing and Availability
Available now, the LPV521 is supplied in a space-saving 5-pin SC-70 package and is priced at 65 cents each in 1,000-unit quantities. For more information, or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit www.national.com/pf/LP/LPV521.html.

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About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is a leader in analog power management technology. Its products include easy-to-use integrated circuits, PowerWise products that enable more energy-efficient systems, and SolarMagic products which improve the energy output of solar arrays. The company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.46 billion for fiscal 2009. Additional information is available at www.national.com.