CIE Components in Electronics
Dialog Semiconductor has unveiled the first programmable multiphase DC-to-DC buck converter, the DA9210, that can be scaled for use across multiple, high-end smartphone and tablet platforms to help accelerate development cycles.
The new four-phase DA9210 buck converter delivers an output current of up to 12 Amp which can be doubled to 24 Amps when two DA9210 converters are used in parallel and up to 38 Amps when combined with the Dialog’s DA9063 System PMIC to supply other power rails in the system. This makes the DA9210 suited to high performance, ARM Dual big-Little or Cortex A15 multicore application processors that enable consumers to multi-task using several applications simultaneously.
Next generation processors are increasingly being architected to step between sleep mode and maximum load very rapidly to help minimise heat build-up. The DA9210 supports this operation and delivers power with efficiency and allows users to run several background tasks, such as weather or Facebook updates, combined with application updates over 4G LTE, whilst downloading HD video with Wi-Fi streaming to TV. The DA9210 is able to deliver improved levels of efficiency across the entire output current range by selectively enabling and disabling phases, reducing losses by up to 50%. The buck can increase the current supplied from zero to maximum in a millionth of a second to support very fast processor wake-up and application response times.
By using this four-phase architecture, combined with a fast switching frequency, the DA9210 enables the use of very low profile components ? with a maximum height of just 1 mm ? to support the design of ultra-thin devices. The Dialog power management system, consisting of up to three Integrated Circuits, behaves as one, simplifying the start-up configuration and control of the power management system. Software loading on the host processor is optimised, improving customer time-to-market while minimising the design effort of the power scheme for subsequent designs.
Udo Kratz, Vice President and General Manager of Dialog’s Mobile Systems business unit, commented, “Dialog has created the new concept of a scalable power solution with our DA9210 quad-phase buck converter. It helps to minimise the effort involved in developing subsequent designs of feature-packed, next generation smartphones and tablets to help vendors keep pace with the need to launch new models every six to nine months in response to consumer demand and competitor activity.”
The DA9210 wide supply range of 2.7V to 5.5V enables the use of single cell lithium-ion batteries as well as a standard 5V supply or a USB power supply. The operating temperature range is -40 to +85 degrees C. The device is available now.
