Vishay Semiconductors Announces 115 kbit/s Infrared Transceiver With 1.9-mm Height and 3.1 mm by 6 mm Footprint, the Industry's Smallest

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA — December 11, 2003 — Broadening its offerings in the infrared data transmission market, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced the availability of the industry's smallest footprint serial infrared (SIR) transceiver for short-distance, wireless communication.

The new Vishay Semiconductors TFBS4711 transceiver measures 1.9 mm high, 3.1 mm deep and only 6.0 mm long - a reduction in length of more than 15% compared with other SIR transceivers on the market. With the new transceiver, design engineers can now add short-range infrared connectivity to smaller and thinner handheld systems with greater flexibility, enabling mobile phones and PDAs to transfer digital images and data files or to pay for goods using the new infrared Point and Pay application.

With each new feature being added to handheld devices, designers are challenged to find space for the interface connectors, buttons, antennas, and displays. With its 6.00 mm length and 6-pin interface, the TFBS4711simplifies this task by allowing designers to reduce the PCB area required for infrared transceivers and reduce the size of the ambient light-filtering window. Smaller window requirements give packaging engineers tremendous flexibility. The 1.9 mm height allows the transceiver to be placed on either side of the circuit board. These advantages, combined with a total implementation cost 10 times less than other forms of wireless communication, free the designer to add features with less concern about space.

Engineering samples of the TFBS4711 are available now.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.