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Maxim and Varioptic to supply next generation low voltage Auto focus liquid lens solutions 

Varioptic and Maxim launch reduced voltage 42V auto-focus driver IC and liquid lens solutions 

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (PINK OTC MARKETS: MXIM), Sunnyvale, CA. (USA) and Varioptic, Lyon (France), 27^th November 2008 – Varioptic, the liquid lens company, announced today the launch by Maxim of its Max14515 driver IC, specifically designed for its new range of low voltage, low cost auto-focus ARCTIC 314 liquid lenses. 

Varioptic continues to develop smaller and lower cost auto-focus liquid lens systems, based on its patented electro-wetting technology. Reducing the system’s voltage is an important step towards achieving this goal. 

Maxim is already sampling low power and very small driver IC capable of 42V output. This, coupled with Varioptic’s low voltage Arctic liquid lenses will enable camera module makers and system integrators to design high end, low power imaging solutions on 1/4”,1/3’’ and 1/2” formats, and up to 8 Megapixel resolution. 

Maxim utilizes its design expertise to develop and manufacture this highly integrated (2mm x 1mm) driver IC. Requiring only 2 external components and controlled through an I²C interface, this is an extremely efficient solution in terms of size and power consumption, both of which are key success criteria for ever smaller camera phone form factors. 

Varioptic’s liquid lens is ideal for camera phones as well as barcode and webcam markets. Liquid lens products feature many advantages over competing technologies in terms of cost, size, robustness, power consumption, silent operation and speed. The latest version of the ARCTIC 314 is Varioptic’s first low voltage solution. Samples are available to order in contacting [email protected] 

John Barber, VP Marketing of Varioptic, commented: “The partnership with Maxim has enabled us to further reduce the size and cost of our liquid lens auto-focus solutions. This reinforces the benefits of liquid lens auto-focus for camera module and camera phone companies. Maxim’s know-how in analog and mixed signal engineering has been key in optimizing our low voltage solution”.

Sui Ping Shieh, Managing Director of the Interface, Switch & Protection BU at Maxim further added: “The need for auto-focus in camera phones is becoming critical to utilize fully the increasing resolution of image sensors. Maxim’s innovative technology and world-class design will provide the analog support needed to enable auto-focus solutions with fast response times, low power consumption, and high reliability.  Together with Varioptic’s unique liquid lens solution, MAXIM and VARIOPTIC will offer a compelling solution to our customers.” 

About Maxim Integrated Products Maxim Integrated Products is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells over $2 billion of high-performance semiconductor products annually. It was founded over 25 years ago with the mission to deliver innovative analog and mixed-signal engineering solutions that add value to its customers’ products. To date, Maxim has developed over 5600 products serving the industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets. For more information, go to www.maxim-ic.com. 

About VariopticVarioptic is the world leader in liquid lenses having pioneered the development of Electrowetting Technology to create variable focus lenses with no moving parts. Liquid lenses are used in a wide range of imaging applications from industrial vision to camera phones, and feature a number of advantages over traditional focusing technologies in terms of robustness, power consumption, size, cost and speed. Varioptic is located in France with a subsidiary in Taiwan and representation in China, Japan, Korea, Europe and the USA. For more information, visit www.varioptic.com.

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