austriamicrosystems Launches AS3681 Charge Pump

austriamicrosystems AG (Graz, Austria) launched its first power and lighting management standard product, the AS3681, which is an integrated, real-time, programmable device suitable for mobile applications such as cellular phones, PDAs and digital cameras. It addresses all lighting functions in addition to display and sensor bias supply applications.

A high-power charge pump, featuring a power conversion efficiency of up to 95 percent, and supporting fractional conversion with 1x, 1.5x and 2x modes, the device delivers up to 600 mA to drive ultra-bright Flash LEDs or power torch applications. The AS3681 integrates 11 four-bit programmable current sinks with currents starting at 2.5 mA and reaching up to 37.5 mA, 150 mA or 300 mA.

A second charge pump allows for generation of high positive and negative supply voltages for different displays. The on-chip, programmable, dc-dc step-up converter provides up to 40 V, 20 mA to drive up to eight white LEDs with a constant current. The same dc-dc converter can also be used to efficiently bias charge-coupled devices applications.

Available in a 5 mm x 5 mm QFN32 package, the device consumes approximately 40 percent less PCB space, and costs up to 30 percent less than comparable discrete solutions. Typical pricing for the AS3681 device is approximately $1.50 each in quantities of 250,000 pieces. An evaluation kit, including engineering samples, evaluation board and easy-to-use software to speed up IC evaluation, are available upon request. Volume production is scheduled for June 2004.