SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS 20 top-notch featrues of power management integrated circuits

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Power management integrated circuits, commonly called PMICs, are power chips used in power electronics and various other industries. These power chips are so effective that they can reduce the size of your next PCB.

Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) is a chip that performs, manages, and simplifies power-related operations in a system. PMIC chips integrate multiple components for power supply, control, and conversion into a single package.

PMIC market

PMIC is a type of power IC. Power devices are of three types: discrete components, modules, and power integrated circuits. In the early 2000s, discrete components dominated the industry. Power ICs and modules were not used much.

At present, modules have overtaken discrete components in sales. The market for power ICs has also grown throughout these years. As per some reports, power ICs have the strongest growth potential for the next decade.

PMIC applications

PMIC chips are used in various applications:

• Consumer electronics

• Portable devices and wearables

• IoT devices

• Home appliances

• Smart home automation

• Networking devices like routers

• Medical devices

• Security systems

• Power chargers

• Embedded systems

• VLSI systems

• Communication systems like Radars

• Edge computing systems

• Industrial electronics

• Electric vehicles

• Autonomous vehicles

• Motor control in robotics and automation

• Renewable energy technologies

PMIC features and functions

Being semiconductors, power management integrated circuits are solid-state devices that promise power delivery and control. PMIC chips are available in logic and memory modules alike. They are manufactured using a combination of BJT and CMOS fabrication processes, known as the BiCMOS process. PMICs have top-notch features; 20 of them are described below.

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1. Seamless integration

PMIC chips can effectively integrate with industrial-grade MPUs (Microprocessors), MCUs (Microcontrollers), SoCs (System on Chips), SOMs (System on Modules), SiPs (System in Package), and FPGAs (Field Programmable Gated Arrays). These chips can also be integrated into software— to ease hardware and software development. Simply put, PMICs simplify power management in complex embedded systems.

2. Intelligent power switching

Each component in a PCB has a different supply voltage and power needs. Most PCBs need to supply different voltages to different components, whether active or passive. PMIC chips offer pin-selectable supply voltage of about 3.3 V, 5 V, and 1.8 V internally to circuits and components. The voltage is converted at the point of load and supplied further.

3. Power path management

Power management integrated circuits can handle multiple power sources in a system. Simply put, PMICs can handle battery and AC adapters alike, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply. They perform automatic switching and carry out charging and powering operations simultaneously.

4. Multiple functionalities

PMICs consist of multiple power rails and management functions. PMIC chips can perform multiple power-related functions during operation. It means that they can carry out power conversion and power control functions simultaneously. In simple words, power management integrated circuit chips cater to multiple power requirements of associated devices.

5. Miniaturization support

As mentioned above, power management integrated circuits offer complete power supply solutions and integrate single or multiple output voltage regulators and various control functionalities into a single chip. It eliminates the need to use discrete components. PMICs decrease the circuit board space— the size of PCBs by 40-50 %. As a result, PMIC chips are simple and compact.

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6. Decreased component count

Complex PCBs have difficult power stages that require two or more discrete components besides converters. PMICs reduce the discrete component count by 60 %. Due to lower component counts, engineering teams get rid of sourcing efforts. Using fewer discrete components can sometimes lead to cost-cutting.

7. Optimized hardware costs

From an enterprise perspective, PMICs result in hardware cost reductions. Software and firmware handle most functions of the PCB. Newly designed functions can be reused later. Hence, enterprises tend to ignore high hardware costs instead of software. PMICs reduce hardware costs by reducing the size of the PCB, optimizing power utilization, reducing sourcing efforts, and using discrete parts. PMICs further lead to a reduction in the development cycle and time-to-market.

8. Effective power control

PMIC chips can control complex power systems. Power control functions include power sequencing, voltage referencing, power source selection, voltage supervision, and protection against under-voltage.

9. Coordinated power sequencing

PMICs enable power sequencing in digital MOS transistors. Power sequencing refers to the startup and shutdown of voltage at the right time and in the right sequence. Power sequencing Irregularities lead to unwanted spikes and latch-up conditions.

10. Efficient voltage conversion

Power management integrated circuits can perform voltage conversion in chips. They integrate multiple buck and boost converters. Functions such as DC-to-DC conversion promote voltage scaling, leading to a superior conversion efficiency of about 95 %. In photovoltaic PMIC chips, built-in MPPT solutions increase power conversion efficiency.

11. Stable voltage regulation

PMIC chips implement the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) technique to perform voltage regulation with medium to high loads. PWM adjusts the duty cycle of the switching load to maintain a stable output voltage.

12. Battery management

PMIC chips offer battery management in portable devices through voltage regulation and faster battery charging solutions. Effective battery management increases the lifespan of consumer electronics like mobile phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and many more.

13. Battery life extension

PMIC chips improve battery life through low-quiescent and leakage-free current and reduced EMI. Power management integrated chips regulate charging and discharging cycles in wearable and wireless devices.

14. Smart voltage programmability

Voltage programmability refers to a chip’s ability to adjust voltage in response to power-saving and enhancing modes. PMICs monitor and adjust incoming and outgoing voltages in systems.

15. Adaptive power saving

PMIC chips in microprocessors and microcontrollers can conserve power through multiple operating modes. They perform dynamic voltage frequency scaling. The processor frequency is automatically adjusted according to actual needs to reduce unnecessary power consumption and combat heat generation.

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16. Advanced thermal management

Power management integrated circuits use multiple integrated low-dropout regulators (LDOs), leading to a small device size and simpler design. LDOs are cost-effective components that generate less heat and do not exhibit switching noise. As a result, PMICs can operate even when the supply voltage equals the output voltage.

17. Fine-tuned audio delivery

PMIC chips use switching power amplifiers like Class D amplifiers to deliver audio signals to mobile devices, wearables, and tablets. These audio amplifiers reduce the overall system size.

18. Lower switching losses

PMIC chips use the PFM (Pulse Frequency Modulation) technique to reduce switching losses and increase battery life in IoT devices and light loads like wearable devices. Unlike PWM, PFM adjusts the frequency of pulses on demand. PFM tends to produce less heat.

19. Precise switching control

Power management integrated circuits perform switching and load control functions. They offer advanced turn-on and turn-off functionalities. Soft start avoids sudden current flow during turn-on, and auto discharge drops the output voltage to 0 V after turn-off. In simple words, PMICs can turn components on and off to save power.

20. Robust protection

Power management integrated circuits offer advanced protective solutions like eFuses, current limiters, and power breakers. PMIC chips constantly monitor supply voltage. These chips are known as reset ICs or voltage supervisors. If the voltage level goes below a predefined level, the signal stops the device and lets it reset.

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