New Industry Products

Push‐button Load Switch with Power Save Function

December 12, 2017 by Paul Shepard

Torex Semiconductor Ltd. has launched the XC6192 series of push‐button load switch ICs for devices with small‐capacity batteries. These ICs enable a significant reduction of power consumption during standby periods after shipping and while the power is turned off, and allow shutdown of the power supply in the event the system freezes.

The demand for miniaturization of battery‐equipped devices is increasing as the use of wearable devices and IoT devices has spread in recent years. Along with miniaturization, there is a critical need for power saving, and lengthening battery life is also an issue in device development.

The push‐button load switch ICs launched by Torex can make a significant contribution to resolving the issues of device miniaturization, saving power, and lengthening battery life.

Methods available for turning off the main power in order to save energy include device power saving using the microcontroller's Deep Sleep Mode, and creating a power on/off switch using the microcontroller and external components (discretes).

These new ICs enable on/off control of the power line by the IC itself with no need for external components.

In addition, by shutting down (off) the power line of battery‐equipped devices after shipping testing, a significant reduction of power consumption during long‐term storage of the devices is now possible. Quiescent current while the power is off is very low, only 10nA (typical).

When a system freeze occurs and it is desirable to forcefully turn off the power, there is no way to do this on a device that implements power on/off using the system (microcontroller). However, these ICs enable operation independent of the system (microcontroller), allowing the power to be turned off with certitude.

The ICs use the push button signal already provided on the device to realize power supply on/off. The number of push buttons on devices has been decreasing in recent years due to considerations such as cost reduction, mounting area reduction, operability, design, and strengthened water proofing. At the same time, functions that can be implemented using a single button are increasing.

The ICs allow selection of a power‐on delay time of 0.5 sec, 1 sec, 3 sec, or 5 sec, and a power‐off time of 3 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, or 15 sec, and a variety of functions can be implemented as long as they are within the selected delay time. This makes it possible to add a power on/off function to a single multi‐functionalized push button.

These ICs are well-suited for wireless earphones and hearing aids, which have a strong need for miniaturization and power saving, and for IoT devices and security devices that must provide long usage times.

The ultra‐low profile (2.0 x 2.0 x h0.33mm) USP‐8B06 package is used to enable space saving through a   reduced mounting area.

Summary of features:

  • Power line on/off is realized by a single IC without external components (first in the industry)
  • Internal switch for power line on/off.
  • Advanced functionality with low IQ, including rush current prevention, short‐circuit protection, and power‐good
  • Shutdown mode can be used after product testing to significantly reduce quiescent current during long‐term storage 10nA (typical)
  • Power‐on delay time is selectable (select from 0.5 sec, 1 sec, 3 sec, or 5 sec)
  • Power‐off delay time is selectable (select from 3 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, or 15 sec)
  • Uses the small, ultra‐low profile USP‐8B06 package (2.0 x 2.0 x h0.33mm)