Power ICs
Battery charger IC for single and dual cell applications
AnalogicTech has introduced the AAT3663, the first in a family of 1A linear battery charger ICs capable of charging up to two Li-ion cells in series. Designed to operate from either an AC adapter or a USB port, the device features AnalogicTech's innovative Digital Thermal Loop charge reduction circuit that monitors the internal die temperature and gradually steps down the charge current to avoid thermal shutdown.
Surface Mount LDO is Easily Paralleled for heat spreading
Linear Technology has announced the LT3080, a 1.1A 3-terminal LDO that may be easily paralleled for heat spreading and is adjustable with a single resistor. This new architecture regulator uses a current reference to allow sharing between multiple regulators with a small length of PC trace as ballast, enabling multi-amp linear regulation in all surface-mount systems without heat sinks.
Catalyst Launches Alternative to Industry-Standard ’604 LED Driver
Catalyst Semiconductor has introduced its newest Quad-Mode fractional charge pump LED driver, the CAT3604V – a four-channel LED driver, which provides an alternative to the industry-standard '604 with similar functionality and the added benefits of Catalyst's patented Quad-Mode switching architecture, including improved average efficiency.
White LED drivers integrate LDOs
AnalogicTech has introduced the AAT2847, a highly integrated four-channel White LED (WLED) driver for portable systems operating off a single-cell Li-Ion/Polymer battery. The charge pump-based device also integrates two 200mA Low Dropout (LDO) linear regulators, each with its own independent enable pin, to power ancillary system functions.
Li-Ion / Li-Polymer Chargers with Auto Power-Source Selection
Microchip has introduced the MCP73837 and MCP73838 dual-input, high-current Li-Ion / Li-Polymer charge-management controllers with automatic USB or AC adapter power-source selection. Auto power-source selection from either a USB port or an AC adapter provides the user with increased flexibility for rechargeable battery applications.
40-V Boost Converter with Integrated 1.2-A Switch from TI
Texas Instruments has introduced a tiny, high-voltage boost converter with an integrated 40-V, 1.2-A FET and a wide input-voltage range of 3-V to 18-V. The high-efficiency device supports boost, SEPIC (single-ended primary inductor converter) and flyback topologies, which are used to regulate single or dual Li-Ion battery inputs. Available in a 2 mm x 2 mm QFN package, the converter simplifies design in industrial or medical point-of-load applications, such as 5-V to 12-V or 12-V to 24-V systems.
Power MOSFETs from NEC are robust
NEC Electronics Europe has announced it has extended its portfolio of low-voltage power management devices (PMD). Part of the NP-Series, the new MOSFETs feature improved ruggedness, with respect to avalanche capability and channel temperature, combined with low values for on-state resistance (RDS(on)) and input capacitance (Ciss). Devices with two VDSS ratings (40 V and 55 V), two ID (DC) ratings (90 A, 100 A) and logic/non-logic gate drive types are available in three popular packages, TO-220, TO-262 and TO-263ZP. All 24 devices are fully AEC-Q101 and RoHS compliant.
DC/DC Regulator Has 2.3mm Profile and Tiny Footprint
Linear Technology has introduced a new DC/DC uModule regulator that operates from lower voltage input supplies and occupies only 1.35cm2 of board area. The LTM4604 is the latest device in the LTM4600 family, and is a complete 4A regulator system with onboard controller, power switches, inductor and bypass capacitors enclosed and protected in an 9mm x 15mm LGA package. This DC/DC uModule regulator has a profile (height) of only 2.3mm and weighs a mere 0.86g. The device operates from an input supply range of 2.35V to 5.5V, regulates an output voltage from 0.8V to 5V, and achieves 93% efficiency when converting a 3.3V input to 2.5V output at up to 4A.
Multiple-output standard buck ICs from Intersil
Intersil has introduced a pair of multiple-output standard buck ICs that integrate critical power management functions to lower the number of components and save valuable board space. The triple and dual output regulators provide a single, high-efficiency power solution for a variety of point-of-load (POL) applications.
Integrated DC-DC Regulators Simplify Embedded Power Designs Says IR
International Rectifier, has introduced the SupIRBuck family of wide input, single output synchronous buck voltage regulators for high density, high performance data center and consumer applications. The IR38xx SupIRBuck family of point-of-load (POL) voltage regulators integrates IR's benchmark HEXFET trench technology MOSFETs and a high performance synchronous buck control IC in a compact 5mm by 6mm Power QFN package, shrinking the silicon footprint by 70 percent compared to discrete solutions, and offering between 8 to 10 percent higher full-load efficiency than competing monolithic ICs.
4 MHz Synchronous Step-Down DC/DC Converter Delivers Up to 1.8A
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3568, a high efficiency, 4MHz, synchronous buck regulator that delivers up to 1.8A of continuous output current from a 3mm x 3mm DFN package. Using a constant frequency and current mode architecture, the LTC3568 operates from an input voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V, making it ideal for Li-Ion/Polymer battery inputs as well as 3.3V or 5V inputs for point-of-load applications. It can generate output voltages as low as 0.8V, enabling it to power the latest generation of low voltage DSPs and microcontrollers. Its switching frequency is programmable from 850kHz to 4MHz, enabling use with tiny, low cost ceramic capacitors and inductors less than a 1mm in height, providing a highly compact solution footprint.
Low-voltage voice-coil motor driver IC with I2C interface
The new A3904 from Allegro MicroSystems Europe is said to be the first in a series of voice-coil motor driver ICs designed for camera auto-focus and zoom applications. Featuring a built-in I2C serial interface for precise high-speed digital programming with only two control lines, the new device features an operating voltage range of 2.4 to 5.5 V and a maximum output current of 127 mA. Output current is programmed via the I2C interface in 500 µA increments with clock rates up to 400 kHz.
National's Switching Regulators available from RS
RS Components has announced that it will distribute a new range of ten Buck switching regulators, launched by National Semiconductor. The new line of LM201xx and LM202xx synchronous Buck regulators includes 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A output current devices. There are ten synchronous Buck regulators, providing high-efficiency DC-DC power conversion for point-of-load power supply designs. The regulators feature a variety of input voltages and output currents, offering a combination of power sequencing, adjustable switching frequency and clock synchronisation options.
3-channel regulator allows mobile device designers to extend system functionality
AnalogicTech has introduced the AAT2504, an adjustable 3-channel regulator that combines a step-down converter with two low dropout linear regulators (LDOs). Targeted at mobile devices with rapidly changing feature sets, the AAT2504 allows designers to extend system functionality and still benefit from power management integration.
Power Management IC from TI maximises energy in Multi-Kilowatt Systems
Texas Instruments has introduced what it says is the industry's first single-chip, interleaved power factor correction (PFC) control circuit for multi-kilowatt communications, server and industrial systems. The new UCC28070 two-phase, average current-mode controller allows designers to simplify power design, increase system reliability and achieve a greater than 0.9 power factor rating, which improves energy efficiency.
LED Driver is designed for solar applications
PREMA Semiconductor GmbH has extended its family of LED drivers by adding a boost driver for solar applications. The new PR4403 drives and controls white LEDs out of one single battery charged by solar cells. It uses the connected solar cells to detect daylight.
16-channel pure-CMOS LED driver from Toshiba
Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has introduced a 16-output constant-current LED driver, which allows closely matched drive currents within ±1% for up to 16 LEDs using only one programming resistor. The TCA62746 is built using pure CMOS technology, delivering a low-cost solution to driving multi-LED arrays for large-size display panels. Convenient features to control large LED arrays are managed via the device's three-wire serial interface, which enables direct communication with a host controller.
Step-up converter from AnalogicTech delivers 500mA in TSOT23 package
AnalogicTech has introduced a synchronous step-up converter that offers designers extremely high output current in a compact package. Designed to support a wide range of handheld portable applications, the AAT1217 delivers up to 100mA output from a single-cell alkaline battery input, up to 400mA from a dual-cell alkaline battery input and up to 500mA from a single-cell Lithium-Ion battery input while supporting startup as low as 0.85V.
Catalyst Adds High-Power LED Driver Optimized for Rapidly Growing, Mid-Size LCD Panel Market
Catalyst Semiconductor has expanded its line of high-power LED drivers with a new device optimized for the rapidly growing mid-size LCD panel market. The new CAT4139 boost converter provides a switch current up to 750mA and drives LED strings up to 22V, making it an ideal choice for digital photo frames and other backlighting applications where high LED counts (up to 40 LEDs) are emerging.
Step-Down DC/DC Controller in 4 x 4 QFN from Linear Technology
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3850, a 95% efficient, dual output synchronous step-down switching regulator controller that drives all N-channel power MOSFET stages with coincident or ratiometric tracking. The 4V to 24V input range encompasses a wide variety of applications including most intermediate bus voltages and battery chemistries. The strong on-board driver allows the use of high power external MOSFETs to produce output currents up to 20A with output voltages ranging from 0.8V to 5.5V.
LED Drivers from TI Boost Video Quality in Large-Panel Signage Applications
Texas Instruments has introduced two 16-channel, constant-current sink, light-emitting diode (LED) drivers with dot correction and grayscale on one integrated circuit (IC) for high-quality video. The drivers give designers increased system reliability and dynamic brightness control to enhance the resolution for large-panel mono-, multi- or full-color LED displays, LED signboards and display backlighting.
Power Switches in SC-75 Packaging Lower Thermal Resistance in Portable Applications
Fairchild Semiconductor has released the FDMJ1023PZ and the FDFMJ2P023Z MicroFET power switches for low power (<30V) applications such as charging, asynchronous DC/DC and load switching. These power switches operate with gate voltages as low as 1.5V while offering 75 percent lower RDS(ON) and 66 percent lower thermal resistance compared to other solutions. Utilizing Fairchild's advanced PowerTrench technology, the FDMJ1023PZ and FDFMJ2P023Z are housed in 2.0mm x 1.6mm SC-75 packaging, which is 65% smaller than 3 X 3mm SSOT-6 and 20% smaller than SC-70 packaging.
Single Port PoE Interface With Integrated DC-DC Controller from Silicon Labs
Silicon Laboratories has announced the industry's first dual-function, single-port Power over Ethernet (PoE) controller with an integrated DC/DC controller for power sourcing equipment (PSE). By combining these two functions, the Si3460 simplifies development efforts, reduces system costs and eliminates specification compliance challenges for designers of a broad range of emerging PoE applications such as in home gateways, set-top boxes, cable modems, DSL modems and Voice over IP systems.
USB Power Manager Li-Ion/Polymer battery applications
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3557, a multi-function power management solution for Li-Ion/Polymer battery applications. The LTC3557 integrates a linear PowerPath manager, a standalone battery charger, ideal diode, three high efficiency synchronous buck regulators and an always-on LDO in a low-profile 4mm x 4mm QFN package. The powerpath manager seamlessly manages the transition between multiple input sources and power to the load, while for fast charging the linear battery charger delivers up to 1.5A charge current from a wall adapter supply or up to 500mA charge current from a USB port.
Power Switch from Fairchild said to increases efficiency up to 97 Percent in Resonant Converters up to 450W
Fairchild Semiconductor highly integrated Green FPS power switch, the FSFR2100 , increases power efficiency and system reliability, and reduces valuable design time in resonant converter designs such as telecom power, high end audio amplifiers, large size laser printers and LCD and PDP TV power supplies. Offering a "system-in-a-package" approach that integrates everything necessary to build reliable and efficient resonant converters, this power switch integrates a pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) controller with a high voltage gate driver circuit and two fast recovery MOSFETs (FRFET®) along with soft-start, burst operation and important protection features into a thermally-efficient 9-SIP package.
Three-phase brushless DC motor pre-driver IC from Allegro
The new A4931 from Allegro MicroSystems Europe is a 3-phase brushless DC motor pre-driver integrated circuit with outputs for the direct high-current gate drive of an all N-channel power MOSFET 3-phase bridge with a maximum supply voltage of 38 V. The device includes three Hall-element inputs, a sequencer for commutation control, fixed off-time pulse width modulation (PWM) current control and locked rotor protection. Output current is scalable with the choice of external MOSFETs.
DC/DC Converters from TI have Dual Outputs for Digital TVs and Set-Top Boxes
Texas Instruments has introduced four dual-output SWIFT DC/DC step-down converters with integrated FETs that deliver 2 A and 3 A of continuous output current and support input voltages of 4.5 V to 28 V. The simple-to-design switchers, which come in a monolithic package, speed time to market, reduce external component count and help reduce cost for point-of-load systems used in a wide variety of applications including HDTVs, set-top boxes and other consumer electronic systems. See: www.ti.com/dualswift.
Switch Mode USB Power Manager & Triple Buck Regulator from Linear Technology
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3555, the first in a family of next generation multi-function power management solutions for Li-Ion/Polymer battery applications. The LTC3555 integrates a switching PowerPath manager, a standalone battery charger, an ideal diode, I2C control, three high efficiency synchronous buck regulators plus an always-on LDO, all in a compact, low-profile 4mm x 5mm QFN package. The LTC3555's PowerPath control feature seamlessly manages power flow between an AC wall adapter or USB port, Li-Ion battery and system load while its instant-ON operation ensures system load power even with a dead or missing battery.
Dual slew rate controlled load switch from AnalogicTech reduces system footprint and cost
AnalogicTech has introduced the AAT4282A, a dual, slew rate controlled load switch that allows designers to reduce parts count and cost by integrating two low resistance slew rate controlled load switches in a single 2 x 2mm package. Part of AnalogicTech's rapidly growing application specific Power MOSFET (ASPM) product family, the AAT4282A features two MOSFETs, each with a typical RDS(ON) of just 60mohms at 5V to support higher load switch current handling capacity with a lower forward voltage drop than single competition devices on the market.
DC/DC Converter Delivers Independent 300mA, 2 x 200mA & 100mA Outputs from a 3mm x 3mm QFN
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3544, a quad channel, high efficiency, 2.25 MHz, synchronous buck regulator that delivers up to 300mA, dual 200mA and 100mA continuous outputs from a 3mm x 3mm QFN package. Using a constant frequency current mode architecture, the LTC3544 operates from an input voltage range of 2.25V to 5.5V, making it ideal for single-cell Li-Ion/polymer, or multicell alkaline/NiCad/NiMH applications. It can generate output voltages as low as 0.8V, enabling it to power the latest generation of low voltage DSPs and microcontrollers. Its 2.25MHz switching frequency enables the utilization of tiny, low cost ceramic capacitors and inductors less than a 1mm in height, which combined with a 3mm x 3mm QFN package, provide a very compact quad output solution.
PWM Controllers from STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics has extended its portfolio of power management devices with a new family of flexible and high-performance PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controllers intended for motherboard and POL (Point of Load) markets. Four new products – L6726A, L6727, L6728 and L6728A – integrate a voltage reference, control logic, gate drivers, monitoring and protection circuits into standard SO-8 or tiny 3x3mm DFN packages. Two of the chips offer additional features for high-level applications, including a PowerGOOD output to report power status and the output voltage sense for accurate over-voltage and under-voltage protection.
Gate driver ICs from International Rectifier with integrated bootstrap functionality
International Rectifier has introduced the IRS2336xD protected 600V three-phase gate driver ICs with integrated bootstrap functionality for appliance motor control, servo drives, micro-inverter drives, and a wide range of general purpose applications.
LED Driver for cell phone displays and lighting
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3219, an inductorless, low noise, high efficiency LED driver for cell phone displays and lighting. The IC provides nine individually configurable current sources for Main, Sub and RGB displays. Display currents are set via a precision internal current reference. The universal current sources can be digitally controlled with independent dimming, brightness, blinking, and gradation control, programmable via a simple two-wire I2C serial interface. The LTC3219's 2.9V to 5.5V input voltage range has been optimized for single cell Li-Ion/Polymer battery applications. Efficiencies when driven from a Lithium battery (3.6V nominal) reach 91% with a quiescent current of only 400uA, maximizing battery run-time. Slew-rate limited switching reduces conducted and radiated noise (EMI).
LED driver with PWM brightness control for large display applications
The new A6281 from Allegro MicroSystems Europe is a three-channel constant-current LED driver IC with an on-chip oscillator for simple programmable brightness control. The new device is ideally suited to driving clusters of red/green/blue (RGB) LEDs in applications where the cluster forms one pixel in a large display or a lighting fixture. It precisely controls LED brightness via 10-bit pulse-width modulation (PWM) on each channel, complemented by 7-bit analogue current control on each channel to adjust colour balance.
Power over Ethernet interface controller from Linear Technology
Linear Technology has introduced the LTC4264, a Power over Ethernet (PoE) interface controller for high-power Powered Device applications. The LTC4264 allows users to develop power-hungry applications beyond the IEEE 802.3af-mandated 12.95W limit, while still maintaining backward compatibility. The LTC4264 can deliver up to 35W for 2-pair systems and as much as 70W for 4-pair systems. To control turn-on surge current in the system, the LTC4264 incorporates a precision dual current limiting circuit with an onboard power MOSFET and sense resistor to provide a complete inrush control circuit without additional external components. The LTC4264 is compatible with the most current decisions on the PoE+ (P802.at) committee.
Rectifiers Increase Power Supply Efficiency and Reliability While Reducing Space
Fairchild Semiconductor is helping power supply designers achieve higher levels of efficiency in less space with seven new STEALTH II fast-recovery diodes. These STEALTH II rectifiers feature fast reverse recovery and soft recovery characteristics that enable reduced MOSFET switching losses and EMI in continuous-current-mode (CCM) power factor correction (PFC) designs. Alternate solutions provide snappy reverse recovery, but this is at the expense of EMI characteristics. Fairchild's STEALTH II rectifiers feature a low stored charge and soft recovery that minimize ringing and electrical noise in the power switching circuit, which, in turn, reduces overall EMI. By using Fairchild's STEALTH II rectifiers, designers do not need to use a snubber circuit and can reduce the size of the EMI filter–making the overall solution more efficient, compact and less expensive.
Dual 300mA Low Dropout Regulator
Catalyst Semiconductor has announced the CAT6221 300mA, dual-output LDO. The CAT6221 integrates two 300mA regulators in a tiny, 6-lead, 0.8mm height TSOT-23 package, providing a smaller, cost-effective option for cell phones, battery-powered devices and other portable consumer products requiring two LDOs.
Dual-Voltage Level 200-mA LDO for Handheld Devices from Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments has introduced what it says is the first dual-level 200-mA low-dropout linear regulator with simple dynamic voltage scaling in a tiny, five-ball chip-scale package. The flexibility of this device benefits applications that require two levels of output voltage regulation for programming of eFUSE or SIM cards with additional memory, such as wireless handsets, PDAs, smart phones, MP3 players and other handheld devices.
Low noise switching regulators from AnalogicTech are an Industry first
Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated (AnalogicTech) announced today the first in an extensive family of switching regulators designed for low-noise operation. Based on an innovative new (patent-pending) architecture, the AAT2120 and AAT2158 synchronous step-down converters deliver significantly lower spectral noise and output ripple than competing switching regulators. These low-noise switching regulators represent the first of several generations of new switching regulator topologies now under development at AATI that target high performance and high efficiency applications.
Synchronous Step-Down DC/DC Converter Delivers up to 500mA with Pin Selectable 1.28V/1.87 Outputs
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3563, a high efficiency, 2.25 MHz, synchronous buck regulator that can deliver up to 500mA of continuous output current from a 2mm x 2mm DFN package. Its output voltage is pin-selectable to either 1.28V or 1.87V, making it ideal for the latest generation of Agere cellphone baseband chipsets. Using a constant frequency and current mode architecture, the LTC3563 operates from an input voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V, compatible with single cell Li-Ion, or multi-cell alkaline/NiCad/NiMH applications. Its 2.25MHz switching frequency enables the utilization of tiny, low cost ceramic capacitors and inductors less than 1mm in height, providing a very compact solution footprint for handheld applications.
