Zetex Introduces ZXSC100 Single-Cell Booster Converter
Zetex plc (Commack, NY) introduced a new single-cell booster converter designed for dc/dc applications in which very low input voltage is required. The new device, the ZXSC100, operates from either a single NiCd or NiMH cell. It is suitable for use in products such as cordless phones, LED flashlights, MP3 players, and other portable and battery-powered applications.
The ZXSC100 has an efficiency of greater than 82 percent, which Zeter says it maintains even as the battery voltage falls below 1V. The circuit will start under full-load conditions and maintains regulation down to an input voltage of only 0.926V. The ZXSC100 offers a programmable output voltage that can be set at any point between the input voltage and the maximum Vce rating of the boost transistor. The circuit can also be configured to support a wide output range, typically up to 2W.
The ZXSC100 generates the control signals for the ZXT14N20DX SuperSOT4 boost transistor, which features a saturation resistance as low as 13 milliohms. Efficiency is also enhanced using a Zetex low Vf Schottky diode, ZHCS2000. Battery economy is enhanced in this way with a low quiescent current of typically 150µA.
Available in the MSOP-8 package, the ZXSC100 is sold for $1.00 each in 1,000-piece quantities. Delivery is quoted at eight weeks in production volumes.
