New Industry Products

Maxim Introduces New Complete Power-Management IC for Third-Generation Intel® Xscale® Processor

September 04, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Maxim Integrated Products Inc. introduced the MAX8660 and MAX8661 — high efficiency power-management ICs (PMICs) designed specifically for the Intel Monahans, the third-generation Intel XScale technology-based applications processors. The MAX8660/MAX8661 PMICs and the XScale processor work seamlessly together in smart cellular phones, PDAs, portable media players, GPS navigators, and other devices requiring substantial computing and multimedia capability at low power.

"The efficiency and flexibility of the new Maxim power-management ICs help enable the excellent power-management features we incorporated into Monahans, our latest application processor family," said Barry Evans, General Manager of Intel's Applications Processor Business Unit. "This Maxim product announcement adds to the broad ecosystem support for the entire Intel XScale processor family."

The MAX8660 integrates eight high-performance and low-operating-current power supplies, an I2C interface, and supervisory functions in a lead-free, 5mm x 5mm x 0.8mm, 40-pin TQFN package. Fully compatible with the Monahans power I2C register set, the device meets all Monahans' processor voltage thresholds and power sequencing and ramp rate requirements. This high level of device compatibility minimizes software development and time to market.

The MAX8660 features four 2MHz ultra-high-performance and low-operating-current step-down converters with synchronous rectification. Two dc-dc converters are serially programmed for dynamic voltage management to power the CPU (1.6A) and internal SRAM (400mA). Two additional dc-dc converters supply I/O (1.2A) and DRAM (900mA), and can achieve up to 97% efficiency. A low-noise 200mA LDO supplies the processor's low-noise circuitry; two general-purpose 500mA LDO's support SD-CARD interfaces. A fourth always-on LDO supplies the Monahans' internal RTC and draws only 20 microamps in deep-sleep mode.

The MAX8660 features overvoltage and undervoltage lock-out protection for highly reliable operation. A 2.6 to 6V input-voltage range with 7.5V absolute maximum rating allows use of a 1-cell lithium-ion (Li+), 3- or 4-cell NiMH, or a regulated 5V input. Both the MAX8660/MAX8661 are screened for the (-40 to +85°C) extended temperature range. Evaluation kits and samples are currently available to speed designs.