austriamicrosystems Power Management SBC Integrates DC-DC Converter & CAN Interface

austriamicrosystems has announced the AS8650 smart power management System Basis Chip (SBC) which is the first to combine a dc-dc converter and a high-speed transceiver on one chip. The AS8650 features high efficiency of 85% minimum over all operation use-cases, while high integration reduces cost, space and development time for engine control units (ECU) with a high-speed CAN interface.

The AS8650 SBC includes three LDOs (low-drop-out voltage regulators) with programmable outputs from 1.8 to 3.3V. Each LDO is powered by the embedded dc-dc converter which can supply up to 500mA to power the microcontroller, sensors, actuators and other components. Integrating the dc-dc converter dramatically reduces power losses compared with commonly used voltage regulators that convert the automotive battery voltage to

5V. In order to enable individual voltage supplies, three programmable LDOs are embedded in the chip. The AS8650 also includes a highly flexible watchdog unit with three monitory timing functions – startup, window and shutdown – which allow the timing to be changed, and features to be enabled via either SPI or I²C settings.

The AS8650 System Basis Chip provides a high-speed CAN interface for up to 1 Mbps communications and conforms to ISO 11898. In addition, the IC can enter into operation mode via a remote wake-up sequence on the CAN bus lines or with the local wake-up pin. Other features include brown-out indication, output voltage monitoring, remote and local wake-up, and automatic thermal shutdown protection.

Harald Gall, Automotive Marketing Manager at austriamicrosystems, stated, "With the AS8650, designers have an SBC for automotive control units that offers high integration and high efficiency in one IC. Designed for high-end power management for next-generation automotive applications, the AS8650 is the first smart power management device of a planned family. A pin-compatible IC with a LIN interface will follow in 2011. Alternative solutions require more space and development time or are not able to optimize power losses."

Specified over an operating temperature range of -40 to +105°C, the AS8650 is offered in a lead-free 36-pin 6 x 6 mm QFN package.

The AS8650 is sampling now and costs $5.00 in 1000 piece quantities. Production is targeted for Q1 2011.