March 24, 2015 – ams (Country Manager Lee Jong-deok), a company specializing in high-performance analog ICs and sensors, announced the release of a small-footprint, highly integrated power management IC (product name: AS3701) for use in wearables and space-constrained devices. The AS3701, a low-standby-current microPMIC (power management IC), implements multiple power regulation, power saving, battery charge protection, and startup functions in a chip-scale package measuring only 2mm x 2mm x 0.4mm.

Power system designers using the AS3701 can achieve space savings and implement enhanced power management capabilities in products powered by a single lithium-ion cell, such as smartwatches, sports bands, wearable medical devices, handheld GPS devices, and mobile phones. The AS3701's multiple power rails include two 200mA LDOs, a 500mA step-down DC-DC converter, and two 40mA (max) programmable current sinks. The synchronous step-down (buck) converter switches at frequencies up to 4MHz and requires only a small inductor and a 10μF output capacitor.

The highly integrated lithium-ion battery charger of the micro PMIC operates in trickle-charge, constant current, and constant voltage modes and supplies a maximum charging current of 500mA. Through power path management functions, this device can start with a dead battery and optimizes power distribution between the battery charging circuit and the system power supply when plugged into the mains.

Numerous designs can be configured with a host processor or microcontroller using the AS3701's I2C interface. When operating in standalone mode, the device includes wake-up/power-down inputs, PWM inputs and outputs, and purpose-built I/O suitable for interrupts and control tasks.

One-time programmable (OTP) boot sequences provide designers with the flexibility to adapt the startup behavior of microPMICs for different applications and processors. This allows OEMs to use the same power solution across various finished product designs, simplify the development process, and consolidate inventory.

The built-in battery temperature monitoring, power-on reset, and overcurrent protection functions support reliable and safe operation.

Bernd Krafthoefer, Product Marketing Manager at ams, said, “The AS3701 is designed based on ams’ years of experience in designing and manufacturing very small and efficient power circuits. It demonstrates cutting-edge technology in power circuit miniaturization and provides the foundation for compact wearable devices that offer longer battery life.”

The AS3701 microPMIC is currently available in mass production quantities and is priced at $0.82 per unit based on a 1,000-unit quantity. Evaluation boards for the AS3701 are available online through ams. For detailed information on samples and technical details, please refer to www.ams.com/PMIC/AS3701.