National Semiconductor Wins Design News Golden Mousetrap Award in Analog Control Category For Second Consecutive Year

Industry’s First High Definition-to-RGB Video Converter Uses Analog Technology To Increase Compatibility Between Different Standards and Formats

March 21, 2006 - National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) today announced that Design News Magazine has honored National’s LMH1251 video converter with a Golden Mousetrap Award in the analog control category. This is the second consecutive year National has won this award. In 2005, National’s Mobile Pixel Link (MPL) interface and chipset for camera phones and small-format displays won this award.

For more than 20 years, the Design News Awards have recognized the most significant individual and corporate technical achievements in the electronics community. After Design News editors selected finalists, the magazine’s readers chose the LMH1251 video converter from two finalists. Design News, a Reed Business publication, is published monthly to more than 170,000 engineers who design products ranging from motion control to spacecraft. Readers completed voting in February 2006. The March 20 edition of Design News features this year’s winners.

“National’s LMH1251 is the first product to convert high-definition video to RGB computer video in the analog domain,” said Erroll Dietz, vice president of National Semiconductor’s Amplifier products group. “The converter’s unique combination of features eliminates all the complex external circuitry or additional chips you would typically find in a discrete or digital solution. We are providing manufacturers with an easy way to add component video compatibility without the headaches and errors of current solutions.”

About the LMH1251 Video Converter
Introduced in August 2005, the LMH1251 is the industry’s first high-definition component video (YPbPr) to RGB video converter IC that increases compatibility between different analog video standards. The converter eliminates the headaches associated with many discrete designs, which use complex external circuitry and additional chips, and digital devices, which can be expensive and offer poorer video quality. The LMH1251’s conversion process is accomplished with analog technology via a color space conversion matrix. Conversion in the analog domain results in a cleaner, crisper decoded video image that is superior to those produced with current solutions.

Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of National’s LMH1251, visit National’s photo gallery.

Product Information
The LMH1251 is offered in a TSSOP-24 package and is priced at $3.49 in 1,000-unit quantities. For more information on the LMH1251 or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LMH1251.html. A large selection of amplifiers is supported by National’s Amplifiers Made SimpleSM WEBENCH® online design tool. To explore these solutions, visit http://webench.national.com.

Supporting Video and Monitor Solutions
National’s analog technology can help video engineers differentiate their products. In addition to its high-performance, high-speed amplifiers, National provides the key functions every system engineer requires in power management, data conversion, interface products, audio subsystems, display ICs and networking products.

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor, the industry’s premier analog company, creates high-value analog devices and subsystems. National’s leading-edge products include power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers, communication interface products and data conversion solutions. National’s key analog markets include wireless handsets, displays and a variety of broad electronics markets, including medical, automotive, industrial, and test and measurement applications. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $1.91 billion for fiscal 2005, which ended May 29, 2005. Additional company and product information is available at www.national.com.

Contact Information

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National Semiconductor

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