MILPITAS, CA – March 23, 2010 – Linear Technology Corporation introduces the LTC3731H, a PolyPhase® high efficiency (up to 95%) synchronous DC/DC controller with guaranteed operation for junction temperatures as high as 140ºC offered in a 5mm x 5mm QFN package. This rugged DC/DC controller is expandable from 3- to 12-phase operation for 60A to 240A power supply designs. The precision ±5% output phase current matching simplifies thermal management by evenly spreading the heat among the output stages. Applications include high current ASIC and FPGA supplies, power distribution buses, automotive engine control units and network servers.

The LTC3731 can be configured as a buck or boost converter and operates with all N-channel MOSFETs from an input voltage ranging from 4.5V to 28V. The powerful onboard gate drivers minimize MOSFET switching losses and allow the use of multiple MOSFETs connected in parallel. A fixed operating frequency can be programmed for each phase from 250kHz to 600kHz or can be synchronized to an external clock with its phase-locked loop (PLL). The device’s minimum on-time of just 110ns makes the LTC3731 ideal for high step-down ratio applications. The reference voltage maintains ±2% accuracy over the full -40º to 140ºC operating junction temperature range.

The LTC3731H incorporates a power saving Stage Shedding™ technique to increase the efficiency and improve battery life at light loads by eliminating the gate charging losses and switching losses of two of its output stages. Additional features include current mode control, programmable soft start, short-circuit and overload protection as well as adjustable soft-start.

The LTC3731H is now available in a 32-lead 5mm x 5mm QFN package as well as a 36-pin SSOP package. Pricing starts at $5.00 each in 1,000-piece quantities. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

Summary Features LTC3731H

• -40ºC to 140ºC Guaranteed Operation
• High Output Current (60A to 240A) Capable
• 3- to 12-Phase Operation
• ±5% Output Phase Current Matching
• VIN Range: 4.5V to 28V
• VOUT Range: 0.6V to 5.25V
• Synchronous Rectification – Up to 95% Efficiency
• RSENSE Current Sense
• 250kHz to 600kHz per Phase, PLL, Fixed Frequency
• Current Mode Control for Fast Transient Response & Easy Loop Compensation
• Adjustable Soft-Start
• ±2% Voltage Reference Accuracy Over -40ºC to 140ºC
• Polyphase® DC/DC Controller Operates
• Up to 140°C

About Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, µModule® products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology’s high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems.

WILSONVILLE, Ore., March 23, 2010 – Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced that its Calibre® LFD™ (Litho-Friendly Design) solution is fully qualified for the latest 28nm processes at TSMC. The Calibre toolset enables TSMC customers to accurately predict and remove lithography hotspots in the design flow before hand-off to TSMC for wafer manufacturing.

“At advanced nodes, designers not only need access to an exact copy of TSMC’s process models to accurately assess lithography issues, they also need those process models incorporated into EDA tools that then drive resolution of any issues encountered,” said Shauh-Teh Juang, senior director of Design Infrastructure Marketing at TSMC. “Our collaborative solution, which includes TSMC’s Unified DFM (UDFM) framework, an encapsulated LPC engine, and Calibre LFD, allows our mutual customers to identify and resolve design-related litho hotspots at TSMC’s most advanced process, while continuing to work within the same Calibre verification platform they have been using for multiple generations.”

The Calibre LFD tool allows designers to identify litho hot spots, i.e., layout topologies that are sensitive to litho process variations and are primary contributors to systematic failures. By accurately showing the effects of the lithographic process on “as-built” layout geometry, the Calibre LFD tool enables designers to make trade-off decisions early, resulting in a design that is more robust and less sensitive to variations across the lithographic process window. This level of analysis is increasingly important at 40nm and below, where the interaction between different design styles—and even small process variations—can greatly influence silicon results.

The new LPC engine provided by TSMC under its UDFM initiative is an integral part of the DFM Data Kit (DDK) provided by TSMC to all of its customers. The Calibre LFD tool users only need to download the 28nm kit in the usual manner to get the full benefits of the TSMC UDFM LPC engine in their existing Calibre DFM flow. Incorporation of UDFM and TSMC’s LPC engine for 28nm is completely transparent for users and requires no changes to the flow compared to 65nm and 40nm.

“TSMC and Mentor are jointly providing a best-in-class solution,” said Joseph Sawicki, vice president and general manager for the Design-to-Silicon division at Mentor Graphics. “This collaborative solution provides our mutual customers with access to accurate foundry process data provided by TSMC, while they continue to use Mentor’s proven Calibre tools to ensure fast turnaround and the best quality of results.”

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million and employs approximately 4,425 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.