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Fujitsu Launches Industry's First High-Efficiency Single-Chip Power Management IC for Ultra-Mobile PCs

Posted on: Thursday, 20 September 2007, 15:00 CDT

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) today announced the development of a one-chip system power management IC for ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs). The new device, the MB39C308, is designed to supply power to the system, memory, and chipsets in UMPCs. Sample shipments will begin in November 2007.

As an industry first for one-chip integration, the MB39C308 complies with the upcoming version of the Low Power Intel Architecture (LPIA) specification proposed by Intel Corporation as a low-power platform for UMPCs. The MB39C308 also meets the next-generation LPIA platform requirement of a six-channel DC/DC converter control circuit, while integrating other peripheral components onto the chip. This enables the power management system to be reduced to less than one-third the size of other similar products. The increased efficiency of the new device's power supply is a major factor in extending the operating time of the UMPC battery.

The MB39C308 was jointly developed with Fujitsu VLSI Limited, utilizing Laterally Diffused MOS (LDMOS) technology. By using an LDMOS technology and revising the transistor structure, the MB39C308 supplies power from a lithium-ion battery at high-efficiency rates without dispersion. The DC/DC converter control circuits incorporated in the chip generate voltages across six different channels and support power for memory, the chipset and external systems such as wireless LAN, as required in the 2008 version of the LPIA platform.

Also, a switching FET integrated in the MB39C308 can drive a current of 1.5 Amps to 3.5 Amps. This benefits the memory and chipset, reducing the number of peripheral components and the size of the power management system. In addition, by optimizing components to comply with the LPIA platform and embedding them into the power management IC, it becomes possible to eliminate the requirement to set voltage or current when designing power management systems.

"Ultra-compact mobile PCs can run the same operating system as regular-sized PCs. UMPCs were launched in 2006, and we forecast the market will reach five million units in 2008," said Davy Yoshida, director of Business Development of Fujitsu Microelectronics America.

"For these UMPCs, it is necessary to supply differing voltages to the processor, chipset memory, and other parts. To extend the operating time of the battery, processor consumption must be reduced and power management ICs are required in order to reduce power supply system size, including control circuits that can supply a large current with high efficiency from a lithium ion battery," Yoshida said.

Sample Pricing and Availability

Samples of the MB39C308, packaged in 208-pin BGAs, will be available in November with prices starting at $9 each.

Specifications of the MB39C308 Power Supply Voltage 5.5V~12.6V Topology Current Mode (1) 6 Channel (ch) voltage down conversion Power Frequency 700KHz((20%) fixed Output Precision (2) (5.0% (transient response included (3) Output Voltage Preset Ch1: 5.0V Ch2: 3.3V Ch3: 1.8V/1.5V Ch4: 0.9V/0.75V Ch5: 1.5V Ch6: 1.1V/1.05V Digital Software Start/Stop (4) 1.7msec ~ 9msec variation Power Good Function (5) Ch1 ~ Ch6 Ch3 ~ Ch6 (memory, chipset) all power good function embedded Protection Function UVLO/OCP/OVP/OTP/SCP/IVP (6) Operating Temperature Range -30 degrees C ~ 85 degrees C Package Plastic BGA-208 pin (1) Current Mode: DC/DC control format with current feedback. (2) Power Supply Precision: Precision shown is with Fujitsu's evaluation board and evaluation conditions. (3) Transient Response: Output voltage change corresponding to an output current change. (4) Digital Software Start/Stop: a function to start and stop the output voltage, that doesn't depend on the output current, by using a digital counter internally in the LSI. (5) Power Good Function: when the output voltage is 90%~110% of the set value, it outputs a signal. (6) UVLO/OCP/OVP/OTP/SCP/IVP: Under Voltage Lockout / Over Current Protection / Output Over Voltage Protection / Over Temperature Protection / Short-Circuit Protection / Input Over Voltage Protection. About Fujitsu Microelectronics America

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) leads the industry in innovation. FMA provides high-quality, reliable semiconductor products and services for the networking, communications, automotive, security and other markets throughout North and South America. For more information about the product, please see http://www.fujitsu.com/global/services/microelectronics/product/assp/power/ind ex.html or address e-mail to inquiry@fma.fujitsu.com

Click here to download a high-resolution photo relevant to this press release http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MICRO/fma/imagelib/MB39C308.zip

All company and other product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.

CONTACT: Emi Igarashi of Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc.,+1-408-737-5647, eigarash@fma.fujitsu.com; or Dick Davies of IndependentPublic Relations Associates, +1-415-652-7515, ipra@mindspring.com, for FujitsuMicroelectronics America, Inc.

Web site: http://www.fma.fujitsu.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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