Multiple Voltage Regulators Integrated on a Single Die
Applied to Cost-Competitive Infotainment Systems

ST introduces a new automotive-grade highly integrated power management device. This new series product features multiple voltage regulators integrated on a single die to help reduce product size and cost of vehicle infotainment systems. The L5963, the first product in this series, includes two switching regulators for step-down DC-DC conversion, one linear LDO (Low-Dropout) regulator, and one high-side driver.

The L5963 is manufactured using ST's cutting-edge BCD8s automotive process technology, which incorporates DTI (Deep Trench Isolation) technology. BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS), a technology first developed by ST, enables integration of low-voltage and high-voltage devices on the same chip. This means all three built-in voltage regulators can be directly connected to the vehicle battery without intermediate circuitry, and DTI technology increases isolation between internal blocks while reducing interference.

The key feature of the L5963 is a compact solution that integrates three voltage regulators in a small PSSO36 package. All regulators can be directly connected to the vehicle battery, output voltage is determined by simple external resistor components, each regulator maximizes flexibility with hardware pins for enable and disable functions, and switching frequency up to 2MHz minimizes external component size.

Additionally, with high current performance of up to 3A per DC-DC regulator, it meets demanding automotive application requirements, and with low power dissipation, it achieves efficiency exceeding 90% at 250KHz. The very low standby current in standby mode (typically 25µA) is essential for automotive applications where subsystems remain constantly connected to the vehicle battery, and it has obtained automotive specification certification (AEC Q100) for use in all automotive electrical systems.

With high integration and BCD technology, no pre-regulators are required between the battery and voltage regulators, and since only one device is needed instead of multiple voltage regulators, cost and PCB area can be reduced.

Samples of the L5963 are supplied at $2.4 per unit in quantities of 1,000 units. The PSSO36 package offers two options: Slug Down for low-power applications and Slug Up for high-power applications requiring a heatsink.