Multi-output Regulator Powers Secure IoT Gateway

Freescale Semiconductor announced the expansion of its system power management portfolio to support key members of its industry-leading embedded networking products. Available now, the highly efficient VR500 regulator is specifically designed to enable comprehensive system solutions leveraging Freescale's QorIQ Layerscape LS1 processors for a variety of applications including secure infrastructure equipment for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The VR500 adds to Freescale’s growing system power management portfolio, which already features solutions complementing popular Freescale microprocessors and microcontrollers, including PMICs for i.MX applications processors, battery chargers for battery powered systems integrating Kinetis MCUs and i.MX processors, as well as system basis chips (SBCs) engineered to work seamlessly with Freescale’s Qorivva 32-bit microcontrollers to help meet stringent functional safety requirements and reduce system power consumption for mission-critical automotive and industrial applications.

“The optimized efficiency, integration and configurability of our system power management products are well-suited for systems using Freescale’s networking processors, including gateways and other high-growth IoT applications,” said James Bates, senior vice president and general manager for Freescale’s Analog & Sensors Group. “In addition to enabling exceptional power efficiency, the VR500 solution and other Freescale system power management products provide our customers with validated, silicon-optimized platform foundations that streamline development and speed time to market.”

Integrated into Freescale’s recently announced LS1021A IoT Gateway, the VR500 is ideal for a variety of intelligent applications that leverage the sophisticated security of the ARM-based QorIQ LS1021A processor, including mobile wireless routers, multi-function printers, network attached storage and automatic teller machines. The configurability of the VR500 system power management solution allows customers to quickly and more precisely configure their systems to meet the unique voltage, current and timing needs of individual applications.

It offers dynamic regulator control via an I2C digital interface for programmability and dynamic voltage control, optimizing the processor’s performance and enabling easy voltage scaling. Four integrated buck converters ensure the target device has high full load efficiency, low power dissipation and integrated switching transistors. Five integrated LDOs provide the flexibility needed to power peripherals while significantly reducing bill of materials costs and package sizes.

“We are delighted to support our customers designing the next generation of connected systems by providing Freescale’s integrated power supply controllers like the VR500, which is perfectly optimised for Freescale’s high performance QorIQ Layerscape processors," said Karim Khebere, vice president of Technical Development for EBV Elektronik. “Our customers’ past experience in pairing Freescale power management companion solutions with other Freescale processor families has generated exceptional results, and we look forward to similar outcomes for the power saving features of the VR500 for QorIQ Layerscape devices.”

The VR500 device is available now for a suggested retail price starting at $3.75 to $3.95 (USD) in 10K quantities. For development support, Freescale offers hardware for the VR500 device with the KITVR500EVM at a suggested resale price of $149 (USD). Freescale’s production-ready LS1021A IoT Gateway is available for order at $429 (USD).