Power-management IC has three output voltages

Micrel Inc. has launched a highly efficient and flexible power-management IC that provides three output voltages and power-on reset in a 3-by-3mm-by-MLF-16 package. The MIC2810 is suitable for use in cellphones, smart phones, PDAs, cameras, portable media players, WLAN cards and Bluetooth applications.

The solution features an input range of 2.7-5.5V, three voltage outputs and a power-on reset. Output 1 is a high-frequency, high-efficiency DC/DC switching regulator for up to 600mA while outputs 2 and 3 are LDO linear regulators. One of the linear regulators can be connected directly to the output of a DC/DC converter or to the main power rail.

The MIC2810 is a uCap design, operating with very small ceramic output capacitors for stability and reducing solution footprint and cost. The DC/DC converter provides virtually no noise in light load mode and just 75?Vrms output noise in LOWQTM mode. This allows designers to avoid higher-noise, light-load modes that have traditionally interfered with sensitive RF circuitry. The solution operates at 2MHz PWM in normal mode, delivers more than 93 percent efficiency and requires a only 2.2?F output capacitor and a 2.2?H inductor for stability.

The part also integrates a power-on reset (POR) circuit that monitors all three output voltages. Independent enables for the switching and two linear regulators allow for design flexibility. Consisting of one switching DC/DC and two LDOs, Micrel's MIC2810 solution footprint is 25 percent smaller than the smallest discrete solution currently on the market.

The device is also suited to powering CPLDs from a 3.3V or 5V rail in general-purpose applications. The MIC2810 is currently available in volume and pricing starts $2.25 for 1,000-piece quantity.