New Industry Products

Single-Chip Multimedia Power Management from STMicroelectronics

February 07, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

STMicroelectronics has announced a compact single-chip power-management device, the STw4810, that is designed to support any multimedia Application Processor Engines (APE) used in multimedia portable products such as mobile phones and PDAs. In addition to multiple dc-dc converters and programmable regulators, the STw4810 also integrates a complete USB-OTG (USB On-The-Go) and full support for popular memory-card interface, plus processor-supply monitoring and Reset control.

With its high level of integration of power- and essential support functions for multimedia products, the STw4810 is able to minimize component costs and board-area requirements, and to simplify printed-circuit-board design. Previous solutions have required several discrete chips and other components to achieve a similar level of functionality, but at higher cost and with lower reliability.

The new device combines a broad range of analog and mixed-signal functions in a very small 4.6 X 4.6mm VFBGA84 (Very Fine Ball Grid Array) or 6 X 6mm TFBGA84 (Thin Flat Ball Grid Array) package. With a few external components, it can perform the main energy management function in APE-based products.

The STw4810 includes two independent dc-dc step-down converters, providing 1 to 1.5V at up to 600mA for the core supply, and 1.8V at 600mA for I/O functions and general-purpose use. Three low-dropout programmable regulators supply power for auxiliary devices and peripherals.

The USB On-The-Go specification addresses the growing need for portable devices such as phones, cameras, PDAs, and MP3 music players to communicate with each other, with limited host capability and low-power features. The STw4810 integrates a complete USB-OTG module for use by the mobile application, including a full speed (12Mbps) and low-speed (1.5Mbps) transceiver, a USB-cable power supply with 100mA capability, and a linear regulator. This interface is CEA-936-A Carkit compliant.

Support for market-standard external memory cards – including SD, MMC (52MHz high speed) and SDIO – is provided by level shifters and a linear regulator. SDIO (Secure Digital Input-Output) support enables the connection of multimedia peripherals such as cameras. The STw4810 also includes processor supply monitoring and Reset functions, and two I2C (Intelligent Interface Controller) control interfaces. Typical applications for the new device are cell phones, portable multimedia terminals, GPS products, PDAs, cameras, and gaming platforms, plus single-cell Li-ion battery powered products.

Engineering samples of the STw4810 have already been shipped to key customers. Full sample availability and volume production is planned for later in Q1 2006. US pricing is $3.00 each for 1,000 units.