Power control family goes for mobile market

Intersil is aiming for the notebook and handheld appliance markets with its latest range of processor-specific Endura mobile-optimised power control ICs.

Intersil is aiming for the notebook and handheld appliance markets with its latest range of processor-specific Endura mobile-optimised power control ICs.

Intersil's Endura ICs are already designed into over half of the world's desktop motherboards that use the Intel Pentium 4 processor and AMD Athlon processor, and the company is now focusing on providing power solutions for improved portable productivity by improving battery life and providing embedded solutions such as wireless networking.

Endura mobile power solutions are the result of collaboration with key mobile CPU suppliers, industry leaders, and a strategic development partnership with PowerSmart, an expert in advanced processor-based battery monitoring and charging.

New products now being introduced include ICs for processor-specific core power management, USB hot plug, I/O power control, embedded wireless communications and advanced graphics, and double datarate (DDR) memory power.

Advanced Micro Devices, Samsung and other leading manufacturers are already designing these power solutions into their notebook PCs.

Key benefits of Intersil's Endura mobile power management products include improved integration and reduction in package size to save space and cost, greater power efficiency to increase battery run time and reduced heat distribution to increase reliability.

New devices include the: ISL6215 mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor core voltage regulator; ISL6205 synchronous buck mosfet driver up to 24V; ISL6223 AMD mobile Athlon CPU core voltage regulator; ISL6211 Transmeta Crusoe CPU core voltage regulator; ISL6119 dual-channel USB hot plug controller; IPM6220 multi-output system regulator - 12, 5, 3.3V; and ISL6225 DDR memory power control.

There are two primary factors that affect the duration of the portable wireless equipment - power management and battery management.

Power management relates to how efficiently battery power is consumed.

Battery management involves how accurately the battery charge level is monitored and how quickly and precisely it is restored.

Both power and battery management are extremely important in determining how long it will be before the user must once again become wired.

Intersil's strategy and product roadmaps offer solutions to both sides of the run-time issue.

"Our mission is to enhance the freedom of mobility for users of notebook PCs and handheld devices by providing innovative solutions in power management and wireless networking", said Rick Furtney, vice president and general manager of Intersil's High Performance Analogue business.

"We have invested heavily in research and development to provide space- and energy-saving power management solutions and highly integrated embedded wireless networking chip sets for notebooks and other portable appliances.

Our new product development strategy leverages our leadership in power management and WLANs to develop devices that increase both the operating time of mobile devices and improve their unwired performance".

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