Timer controllers allow simpler design of electronic appliances

The new devices are said to operate intrinsically at 0.9V to control a dc motor and drive a high brightness LED directly from a single battery. According to Semtech, the devices do not require an external boost converter and inductor and feature pin programmable timer functions, eliminating the need for software tuning. This combination of features is said to reduce the overall size and weight, extend the battery life, simplify design, and lower the total BOM cost for a range of small consumer home and office appliances. The SX8120 and SX8121 timer controllers operate between 0.9 and 2V over the full industrial temperature range of -40 to 85^°C, which Semtech says makes them ideally suited to operate from one AA or AAA alkaline, NiMH or NiCd battery. The devices are said to have a continuous output that can be activated on the press of a button to control either a dc motor or other continuous low voltage function. They also have a battery safe operation with 0.6 V I/O control.