New Industry Products

Renesas Introduces dc–dc Converter for Mobile Devices and Digital Consumer Products

June 15, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Renesas Technology America, Inc. announced the R2A20101 synchronous-rectifier type dc–dc converter, a fast-response power supply device for mobile phones, other digital consumer electronics products, and battery powered handheld devices. In a typical application, the power-converter IC is located right next to the load it is driving: typically a microcontroller, logic device, memory chips, etc. It performs step-down conversion of the voltage from a battery or other dc source to the stable lower power supply voltage that its load requires. By itself, the R2A20101 delivers up to 650mA of output current, however, an on-chip parallel-operation function allows even larger output currents.

Suitable for low-voltage, large-current applications, the R2A20101 dc–dc converter produces an output voltage change in response to a load fluctuation (a wireless message transmission, etc.) in only five microseconds. This is at least 50% quicker than previous devices. To achieve this fast load transient response, the device uses a new current-feedback method for output voltage control, helping to ensure reliable system operation.

The dc–dc converter is simple to use. No external parts are required, just connections only to the VIN, GND, EAO (Error Amp. Out) and output pins. The device has a power supply voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V and operates at PWM switching frequencies as high as 2MHz. It achieves 92% power conversion efficiency with a 2.5V input and 1.8V output.

The R2A20101 converter includes a voltage-tracking function and supports the execution of various kinds of sequence control. It is available in a small (4mm x 4mm x 0.8mm) QFN-24 low-thermal-resistance package, as well as an ultra-small (1.96mm x 1.26mm x 0.48mm) CSP-15 package.