NPC markets real-time clock ICs and modules that keep track of year, date, weekday, hour and minute. The newly developed SM8578BV performed all of these functions at half the current consumption of existing ICs in portable devices.

In the last few years, portable devices such as cellular phones have enjoyed explosive growth and become widespread. This market is driving the trend for much smaller, multi-functional, and long-lived products. The SM8578BV comes in miniature 8-pin VSOP packages and features low current consumption.

The SM8578BV is a CMOS serial interface, real-time clock IC using a 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator for its reference timing. It comprises second-counter to year-counter clock and calendar circuits that feature automatic leap-year adjustment, alarm and timer interrupt functions, as well as oscillator stop, timer reloading, and other detection functions. Data is transferred to/from an external controller using a 3-wire serial interface. It is available in compact 8-pin VSOP packages, making it ideal for use in all types of portable, hand-held equipment.