Power chip makes the most of a single cell

A buck-boost power management IC helps extend battery life in smart phones, digital still cameras and other single-cell lithium-ion powered multimedia devices.

Texas Instruments announced today a buck-boost power management integrated circuit (IC) that helps extend battery life in smart phones, digital still cameras and other single-cell, lithium-ion (Li-ion) powered multimedia devices.

The DC/DC convertor delivers up to 96% efficiency over a wide input voltage range of 1.8 to 5.5V, while generating an output current up to 1.2A.

"Portable designers continue to face an uphill battle when it comes to getting more out of their battery", said Dave Heacock, Vice President of TI's Portable Power Management Business.

"Texas Instruments continues to work closely with the top 3G wireless handset, digital still camera and other portable electronics makers to ensure they are maximising all of the potential energy in a Li-ion battery and meet consumers' appetites for extended battery life".

TI's new TPS63000 buck-boost convertor provides up to 28% greater run-time compared with a standard high-efficiency buck convertor with a 3.3V output - all from a space- saving 3 x 3mm QFN package.

Based on a fixed frequency, pulsewidth modulation (PWM) technique, the device uses synchronous rectification to maintain high efficiency to support today's single-cell Li-ion batteries.

In addition, the TPS63000's ability to support input voltages as low as 1.8V allows designers to implement newer, denser lithium-based battery chemistries in TI OMAP processor-based handsets and other multimedia applications.

Efficiently delivering step-up and step-down DC/DC conversion with adjustable output voltages down to 1.2V, the device offers an extremely low quiescent current of less than 30uA, and advanced power savings and voltage protection features.

The TPS63000 enters a power save mode at low power operation, which can be disabled, forcing the convertor to operate at a fixed switching frequency.

The convertor also can be disabled to minimise battery drain.

During shutdown, the load is completely disconnected from the battery.

The TPS63000, which comes in a tiny 3 x 3mm, 10-pin QFN PowerPAD package, operates in a fixed frequency of 1.5MHz that allows a portable designer to implement a 2.2uH inductor.

TI also plans to introduce future buck-boost convertors in the TPS63000 family in ultra-small chip scale packages.

The TPS63000 is available in volume production from TI and its authorised distributors.

Suggested retail pricing is $2.75 in 1000 piece quantities.

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