High performance PMICs: Powering next-gen consumer applications

With a pair of feature rich, high performance and scalable power-management ICs (PMICs) from Maxim Integrated Products, designers of mobile systems can now maximize performance per watt while increasing system efficiency for computationally intensive deep-learning systems on chip (SoCs), FPGAs and application processors.

The MAX77714 and MAX77752 address a broad spectrum of applications ranging from augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), gaming, solid state drives (SSDs), security and industrial internet of things (IIoT) to handheld devices such as cameras and home automation hubs. Architected to deliver numerous benefits, including consuming 40% less power than standard solutions, the PMICs extend battery life while providing a compact form factor.

Computational power is rising in consumer electronics as designers move toward higher performing application processors and SoCs for a diverse range of mobile devices. However, users expect their battery operated, always on electronics to run cool and for long periods of time. Designers face the challenge of reducing board space and component cost of these consumer devices while delivering high efficiency, high horsepower and flexible power sequencing.

Maxim’s high performance PMICs offer complete power management in single chip solutions so that application processors can operate at peak levels and deliver a stable, high quality user experience. The two PMICs also integrate multiple features, allowing designers to reduce the solution footprint and system cost.

Kevin Anderson, Senior Analyst, Power IC Research at IHS Markit, stated: “As consumer electronics increasingly adopt higher performance processors to meet the demands of compute-heavy applications like augmented reality and machine learning, there is also a drive to improve power efficiency and reduce form factor. High-performance, highly integrated PMICs play an important role for designers in this market, which we estimate will grow from $291 million in 2017 to $419 million in 2021.”

Karthi Gopalan, director of business management for the Mobile Power Business Unit at Maxim Integrated, added: “Today’s consumer landscape is rapidly driving the integration of multi-core CPUs, APUs, GPUs, artificial neural network accelerators and machine-vision algorithms onto a compact solution. Maxim’s newest PMICs are streamlined to address these very needs, providing scalable and configurable resources with gaming-level performance that efficiently power the world’s fastest mobile processors.”

MAX77714: High performance PMIC for computationally intensive applications

The MAX77714 PMIC delivers a complete, efficient power management solution in a compact package to enable multi-core processor based systems to operate at maximum performance with greater than 90% efficiency at 3.6VIN, 1.1VOUT. With a 70-bump, 4.1×3.25×0.7mm WLP package, it enables thinner, smaller devices and extends battery life up to 40% compared to stand-alone solutions.

Also, it reduces design cycle time, component count, and bill of material (BOM) costs compared to discrete solutions by integrating 13 regulators, including nine low dropout linear regulators, real time clock (RTC), backup battery charger, watchdog timer, flexible power sequencing and eight general purpose input/outputs (GPIOs).

MAX77752: High performance, compact, multi-channel PMIC with hot plugging capabilities

The MAX77752 is a multi-channel, compact and integrated PMIC designed for applications with multiple power rails and hot plugging capabilities. It improves efficiency up to 90% at 3.6VIN, 1.8VOUT for longer battery life and includes a flexible power sequencer (FPS) to allow hardware or software controlled power up.

Furthermore, it reduces design cycle time, component count and BOM costs by integrating three buck regulators (with high-accuracy brownout comparators), one low-dropout linear regulator, two dedicated load switch controllers, one in-rush current limiter, two external regulators to enable outputs, voltage monitor for backup power control and a dedicated digital output resource for logic control. The MAX77752 comes in a compact 40-pin, 5x5x0.8mm, 0.4mm-pitch TQFN package.