PMICs Drive Optimized Power for Automotive ADAS Functions

With a series of power-management ICs (PMICs) from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., designers can optimize power for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) functions to achieve high performance, small size, efficiency, and electrical protection.

ADAS functions, many of which are now mandatory or will be soon, increase vehicle safety and enhance the driving experience. These features include smart braking for collision avoidance, GPS/navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, lane-departure warning, and back-up/surround video.

Although these functions receive considerable design attention, managing dc power in electrically harsh vehicle environments is a less-publicized yet critical challenge which involves significant issues of functions, features, performance, efficiency, and footprint.

Maxim's array of application-optimized ICs, which manage dc power, solve the top-level designer pain points for various ADAS functions involving a combination of package size, operating efficiency, quiescent current, electrical protection, and EMI generation.

The series of PMICs which Maxim has released include:

• MAX20019 Dual Synchronous Step-Down Converter—Provides the industry's smallest 3.2MHz dual step-down power supply in a 2mm × 3mm package size (compared to the closest competing solutions that offer single channel parts in either a 2mm x 2mm or 3mm x 3mm package size)
• MAX20087 Quad Camera Power Protector—ASIL-grade camera module protector IC includes an I2C interface to report on over/undervoltage/fault conditions; monitors up to four 600mA coax channels and isolates faults from individual camera modules
• MAX20075 and MAX20076 Synchronous Step-Down Converters—Offer the industry's lowest quiescent current with peak and valley mode options; provide a high peak efficiency of 91% for always-on applications compared to competing solutions, while featuring a 40V load-dump tolerance
• MAX20014 Triple-Output Converter—Features one synchronous boost and two synchronous step-down converters for smaller, simpler, and lower cost designs (competing approaches require two ICs plus discrete components); features 2.2MHz switching frequency and spread-spectrum capability for reduced EMI and comes in a small 4mm x 4mm package size

"Designers must meet demanding requirements along with difficult constraints, which standard catalog parts cannot do effectively," said Warren Tsai, director of business management for the Automotive Business Unit at Maxim Integrated. "With this array of carefully-tailored, application-specific ICs, Maxim is addressing the complex and unique needs of ADAS designers."