Austrian Microelectronics launches configurable power management chip AS3715

Austrian microelectronics, a leading supplier of high-performance analog ICs and sensors , today announced the launch of a configurable power management chip, the AS3715, which enables OEMs to implement power circuits for a variety of end products with the same hardware design.

The new AS3715 contains the essential power management building blocks for power solutions for all lithium-ion battery-driven handheld devices, including action cameras, navigation devices, tablets, media players and game joysticks.

The AS3715 has a wide range of applications, and the ability to program the startup configuration allows the power system to be easily adapted to the processor of different applications. The programmability of the startup procedure and the built-in DC-DC converter output allows the design team to adapt to changes in end product specifications at any time without having to re-adjust the board design.

The power conditioning module of AS3715 includes:

· 3 4MHz DC-DC step-down converters with programmable outputs

1 DC-DC buck controller

2 DC-DC boost converters with programmable outputs

8 low dropout linear regulators

The device also provides eight general-purpose input and output interfaces, a charger circuit supporting 1.5A output, an I2C interface, three current sinks, an analog-to-digital converter, and a watchdog clock.

The DC-DC controller controls the external power stage, allowing the user to maximize energy efficiency, simplify printed circuit board routing, and evenly distribute power on the board to achieve balanced heat dissipation . The device supports single-phase or dual-phase controllers, which means that the highest efficiency of the system can be adjusted according to design requirements and size constraints. The DC-DC controller is capable of controlling output currents up to 8A.

Two of the eight low-voltage linear regulators have low-noise outputs, making them ideal for RF components, image sensors, and other noise-sensitive circuits. The AS3715 has three high-voltage current sinks designed for LCD backlighting applications, providing adjustable current outputs in increments of 150μA from 0A to 40mA. In addition, the PWM input option provides a simple way to implement dynamic lighting. The integrated 5V boost converter can provide power to the HDMI interface or other 5V external devices.

Other configurable options include the choice of implementing switch-mode charging or linear-mode charging, depending on whether the design focuses on optimizing efficiency or space and cost. Safety features include customizable JEITA-compliant temperature monitoring and voltage/current control circuits.

“Because the AS3715 is an extremely versatile power management chip, design engineers can easily use it as the basis for a single power system platform that supports a wide range of electronic products,” said Peter Kammerlander, product manager for power and wireless at austriamicrosystems. “The flexible configurability of the AS3715 power management chip also enables developers to quickly respond to the latest changes in design parameters. Changing or upgrading the processor does not necessarily require redesigning the power management circuit.”

The AS3715 is available for sampling now in a space-saving 3.7mm x 3.7mm WL-CSP package . It operates from a 2.7-5.5V supply and is rated for operation over the -40°C to 85°C temperature range.