New Industry Products

PMICs Increase Power Density with Field Programable Technology

October 23, 2018 by Paul Shepard

Active-Semi has optimized its leading PMIC device performance and introduces the ACT88325 and ACT88326 for SSDs & portable applications. The ACT88325 and ACT88326 are integrated field programmable ActivePMU™ PMICs.

The products are highly flexible with non-volatile memory and come pre-programmed and can be field programmed via I²C or via GPIOs for multiple applications.

The ACT88325 powers up based on the preconfigured startup sequence as soon as power is applied to the input pin, whereas ACT88326 implements a Push Button Startup that relies on a customer's interaction with, for example, a portable application like an Action Camera, Video Doorbell, Body Camera or other handheld applications.

"Low external component count, extremely small WLCSP package and high configurability significantly speeds time to market and reduces PCB size and BOM cost," says David Briggs, VP and General Manager of Power Solutions at Active-Semi.

"The ACT88325 and ACT88326 are a great addition to our lineup and are specifically designed for the highest power density in SSDs and the ACT88326 for portable applications, where everyone wants smaller and lighter, with the push button start," Briggs added.

The core of the devices includes 3 dc-dc step down converters using integrated power FETs, and 2 low-dropout regulators (LDOs). The buck converter and LDO can be reconfigured as a bypass switch and an additional high-power load switch controller is included.

The ACT88325 and ACT88326 PMICs are available in a 2.8 x 3 mm 36 ball WLCSP package with optimized pinout for easy PCB routing. The pinout is optimized to implement PTH (Plated-Through Hole) under the package to optimize layout efficiency and reduce the required PCB layers for routing.