Microchip Technology Inc. (Chandler, AZ), a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, announced its MCP1650/51/52/53 Series of 750 kHz, gated oscillator, dc-dc boost controllers, which can deliver 5 W of power to the load while consuming only 120 µA of quiescent current at no load. They are used to generate the supply voltage for microcontrollers and other electronic loads from a battery supply or the bus voltages available in the system.
The MCP1650/51/52/53 Series offers a range of features that include low-battery detect, which can be used to determine when the low-battery input voltage has fallen below a pre-determined threshold. In addition, the devices include a low-power shutdown mode, (typically <0.1 µA). The power-good indicator monitors the output voltage, transitioning the voltage from a high impedance state to a low state capable of sinking to 10 mA if it drops below the regulated set point. Peak-input current limiting prevents the current from getting too high and damaging the external n-channel MOSFET. The devices also feature adjustable output-voltage capability from 2.5 V to over 100 V, and a choice between two under-voltage, lockout voltages (2.0 V or 2.55 V).
The MCP165X family is even stable when utilizing small ceramic output capacitors, and is available in MSOP 8-pin and 10-pin packages, depending upon options. The boost dc-dc controllers are priced in 1,000-unit quantities. The MCP1650 boost controller is $1.15 each. The MCP1651 with low-battery detect and the MCP1652 with power-good detect are both $1.20 each. The MCP1653 with low-battery detect and power-good output is $1.28 each.
