OKI Develops World's Lowest Current-consumption, Real Time Clock IC with SOI-CMOS Technology

(Product News, 10 Apr 2007)

Oki Electric Ind. Co. Ltd has developed ultra low power current real time clock (RTC) ICs with the world's lowest current consumption at just 0.15µA. The newly developed ML9073/ML9074 series has 1.5-fold longer battery life than conventional chips. OKI is now providing samples of this product to makers of mobile and AV equipment that requires long operating time.

Most devices including digital cameras, audio players, TVs and DVD recorders have a built-in real-time clock (RCT) for their clock functions to keep accurate time even when the power is turned off. However, most RTCs are embedded in ASICs and MPUs as an IP and it is difficult to minimize current consumption because ASICs and MPUs use leading edge processes. Thus, reducing current consumption when the power is turned off has been a challenge in mobile equipment that runs on small batteries such as button dry batteries.

"We are pleased to introduce these ICs that respond to the market needs. OKI succeeded in developing these chips with ultra low current and low voltage using SOI-CMOS technology, in which we have strong track record," said Masahiko Morioka, President, Silicon Solutions, Oki Electric. "With these new ICs, we succeeded in lengthening the battery life and reducing the size of the battery and condenser."

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