Power Integrations Launches Charger/Adapter Reference Designs Using New LinkSwitch(R)-II...

Power Integrations Launches Charger/Adapter Reference Designs Using New LinkSwitch(R)-II Family of ICs

Highly Accurate Primary-Side Control Enables Tightly Regulated
CV/CC Power Supplies With Reduced Component Count

EcoSmart(R) Technology Easily Exceeds ENERGY STAR 2.0 and Other
Worldwide Energy-Efficiency Standards
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Power Integrations (Nasdaq:POWI), the leader in high-voltage
integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today
announced three charger/adapter reference designs utilizing the
company's new LinkSwitch-II family of AC-DC switched-mode power
conversion ICs. The new LinkSwitch-II devices utilize highly accurate
primary-side control to enable tightly regulated constant-voltage and
constant-current (CV/CC) modes of operation with at least 30 percent
fewer components than typical secondary-side designs. The new devices
exceed the active-mode efficiency requirements of the new ENERGY STAR
2.0 specifications by 10 percent across the entire load range, and
consume 90 percent less no-load power than the allowable limit.

Traditionally, switched-mode power supplies use a secondary
circuit to sense the output voltage and feed error signals back to the
primary-side controller. LinkSwitch-II uses a transformer winding to
sense the output voltage, eliminating the need for the secondary
circuit. This not only reduces component count by as much as 30
percent, but also improves energy efficiency since secondary-side
components consume power. LinkSwitch-II devices further enhance the
accuracy of the output voltage and current by compensating for
transformer tolerance, input line voltage variations, ambient
temperature, and voltage drop in the charger output cable.

Power Integrations has produced a reference design kit, an
instructional video and three reference design reports (RDR 157, 158
and 159) to help designers of adapters and chargers benefit from
LinkSwitch-II's simplicity and elegant design. A new reference design
kit (RDK-160) includes all three complete designs and is intended for
use by anyone trying to build a CV/CC adapter under 5.5W.

The first design (RD-157) complies with the China Charger standard
for CV/CC cellphone chargers, which has been mandated by the Chinese
government. The new design is accurate, highly efficient, features low
no-load power consumption and requires the fewest components of any
charger available today.

The second design (RD-158) is a high-power cellphone charger for
high-end cellphones, PDAs and other portable, personal devices that
need significant power to charge voracious lithium-ion power packs
very quickly. It offers the same accuracy and efficiency as the other
reference designs while providing 5.5W at 5V, +/-250mV.

The final design (RD-159) is an adapter for cordless phones.
Cordless phone adapters present unique design challenges since they
are electrically connected to the telephone system, potentially
worsening the effect of lightning strikes and other high-voltage
surges and transients which may damage the equipment. The RD-159
design can withstand 10 kV of surge, yet seamlessly and reliably
provides power to the phone with an accuracy of +/- 250mV.

Comments Doug Bailey, vice president of marketing at Power
Integrations: "Worldwide energy efficiency standards are only going to
get tighter. By eliminating lossy components such as the sense
resistor, LinkSwitch-II enables power supply designers to easily
exceed the ENERGY STAR 2.0 specifications for external power supplies,
as well as the limits expected to be imposed soon by the EU on
adapters and chargers.

"By slashing component count, LinkSwitch-II reduces manufacturers'
exposure to commodity price increases, spiraling labor costs and
inventory management challenges," Bailey continued. "LinkSwitch-II
also provides outstanding output accuracy even under varying line
voltage, load, component tolerance and operating temperature."

As well as being extremely energy efficient, all LinkSwitch-II
family members are produced in Halogen-free, RoHS-compliant packaging,
which is increasingly being demanded by key OEM customers and their
power supply sub-contractors.

Power Integrations' Green Room website
(www.powerint.com/greenroom) contains information on the issue of
energy waste from inefficient power supplies, as well as tips on how
to minimize the amount of energy wasted by household and office
electronics. The Green Room also provides a comprehensive guide to
energy-efficiency standards around the world, as well as a host of
reference designs and software to assist in the design of
energy-efficient power supplies.

About Power Integrations

Power Integrations is the leading supplier of high-voltage analog
integrated circuits used in energy efficient power conversion. The
company's breakthrough integrated-circuit technology enables compact,
energy-efficient power supplies in a wide range of electronic
products, in AC-DC, DC-DC and LED lighting applications. The company's
EcoSmart(R) energy-efficiency technology, which dramatically reduces
energy waste, has saved consumers and businesses around the world more
than an estimated $2.9 billion on their electricity bills since its
introduction in 1998. Reflecting the environmental benefits of
EcoSmart technology, the company's stock is included in clean-tech
stock indices sponsored by Nasdaq (Nasdaq: CLEN; Nasdaq: CELS) and the
American Stock Exchange (AMEX: CTIUS). For more information, visit the
company's website at www.powerint.com.

Power Integrations, Inc.
Peter Rogerson, 408-414-8573 (Media)
progerson@powerint.com
Joe Shiffler, 408-414-8528 (Investors)
jshiffler@powerint.com
or
Billings Europe PR Agency
Nick Foot, +44 (0) 1491-636 393
nick.foot@billings-europe.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008