New Industry Products

ON Semiconductor Announces the NCP1402 DC/DC Converter

February 12, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

ON Semiconductor (Phoenix, AZ) announced the availability of a dc/dc converter that they claim extends battery usage in portable equipment powered by one or two battery packs. With an efficiency rating of 85 percent, the new NCP1402 micropower Power Factor Modulator (PFM) step-up dc/dc converter has an output voltage of 1.9V.

Available in a low profile 5-pin SOT-23 package, the NCP1402 offers a 60 percent reduction in footprint when compared to the MC33463, the previous-generation product.

The NCP1402 dc/dc controller is designed for applications that include handheld instruments and games, camcorders, MP3 players, digital still cameras and portable communication devices. It requires three external components and is equipped with an on-chip PFM oscillator, controller and comparator, a voltage reference, soft-start, feedback resistors, driver and also a power MOSFET switch with current limit protection. The NCP1402 is designed to start-up with a cell voltage of 0.8V and to operate down to less than 0.3V.

"The NCP1402's low output voltage, high efficiency, low noise and compact size are testaments to ON Semiconductor's product development expertise. Competing products lack the efficiency and output voltage threshold this device offers," said Ahmed Masood, director of analog wireless business at ON Semiconductor. "With the introduction of the NCP1402, ON Semiconductor demonstrates its commitment to deliver application-driven power management products ahead of the market."

The NCP1402 is available in a 5-pin SOT-23-5 package. In quantities of 12,000 pieces, the NCP14022 is priced at $0.40.