TI 0.7-V input boost converter supports 5 uA operating current

Tiny power management chip maintains 85 percent efficiency at light load; helps extend battery life in MSP430 microcontroller-based applications

DALLAS . - Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) introduced today a 2 MHz DC/DC boost converter that operates at 5 uA of quiescent current, while maintaining a high efficiency at light load conditions. The integrated circuit supports an input voltage of 0.7-V to 5.5-V and an output voltage range of 1.8-V to 5.5-V, extending battery life in low-power microcontroller-based designs, such as single AA or coin-cell alkaline applications. See: www.ti.com/tps61220-pr.

The new TPS61220 boost converter, which comes in a small SC-70 package, provides full battery capacity utilization of a portable system, because of its ability to start up with a 0.7-V input voltage into a connected load. Based on a hysteretic, off-time control method, the device uses synchronous rectification to maintain more than 85 percent power efficiency at the lowest possible operating current. This allows microcontroller-based applications, such as those that use TI’s new CC430 microcontroller and low-power RF on a chip (www.ti.com/cc430), to extend battery life by maintaining efficient standby operation.

The TPS61220 provides output current up to 50 mA at a 5-V output, and discharges the system’s lithium-ion battery down to 2.5-V. The device’s output voltage can be programmed by an external resistor divider, or is fixed internally on the chip. In addition, the converter can be disabled to minimize battery drain.

Smallest boost converter solution in an SC-70 package

The TPS61220, which comes in a 6-pin, SC-70 package, can achieve a total DC/DC converter solution size of 6.4 x 9 mm with a height of only 1 mm. The small size and high performance allow designers to implement the device in any portable, microcontroller-based application powered by A, AA or AAA batteries.

Key technical features of the TPS61220:

* 85 percent efficiency at 30 mA output current at 3.3-V (Vin greater than 1.2-V) and 20 mA output current at 5-V (Vin greater than 1.2-V)
* Typical device quiescent current of 5 uA
* Startup into load at 0.7-V input voltage
* Operating input voltage range from 0.7-V to 5.5-V
* Fixed and adjustable output voltage options from 1.8-V to 5.5-V
* Overtemperature protection

Pricing and availability

The TPS61220 boost converters are sampling today, and are scheduled to be available in volume by the end of 2008. Suggested resale pricing in quantities of 1,000 units is $0.65. TPS61xxx evaluation modules, application notes and TI’s DC/DC Quick Reference Guide are available through power.ti.com.

Leading power management IC portfolio for MSP430 microcontrollers

TI power management products support a wide range of microcontroller-based designs, including those MSP430-based applications that require ultra-low input voltage, low quiescent current boost conversion or a low-power step-down configuration. In addition to the TPS61220, the TPS61200 boost converter (www.ti.com/tps61200) can support input voltage levels as low as 0.3-V and lower, opening the door to energy harvesting designs. TI’s TPS780xx (www.ti.com/tps780xx) is the industry’s first 500 nA, dual-output low-dropout regulators (LDOs) available in a 2 mm x 2 mm SON package.