TI Korea (CEO Kent Jeon, www.ti.com/ww/kr) March 6, 2012 – TI announced that it is adding two new RF DC/DC switching converter products to its portfolio of superior RF power management ICs (integrated circuits). These new regulator devices, designated LM3242 and LM3243, are adaptive power supply ICs that minimize power consumption of RF power amplifiers across all operating conditions. Along with the LM3241, these two devices extend battery life and reduce heat generation in battery-powered 2G, 3G, 4G LTE (long term evolution) mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. (For samples, evaluation boards and more detailed information on this product, refer to http://www.ti.com/rfpower-pr)

Operating the wireless circuitry in mobile devices accounts for a significant portion of total power consumption. This ratio can easily exceed 30%. The RF power amplifier is the least efficient part in today's mobile systems, typically operating at maximum voltage regardless of the voltage actually required. TI's new LM3242 and LM3243 devices can save substantial amounts of energy by dynamically adjusting the voltage supplied to the power amplifier based on how much power is actually needed.

The LM3242 and LM3243 are differentiated from existing DC/DC switching converter products in that they are designed to meet stringent RF performance requirements and dynamically optimize power amplifier output power, thereby saving more than 50% of battery current consumption and reducing power amplifier heat generation by up to 30°C. These IC products achieve 95% efficiency and offer multiple operating modes to maximize efficiency across all battery and output conditions. The LM3242 is compatible with 3G and 4G applications and features a very compact 9mm² solution size. The LM3243 can be used in 2G, 3G, and 4G applications while maintaining output specifications and minimal solution size by incorporating unique dynamic current supply and analog bypass modes.

Features and Benefits of LM3242 and LM3243 RF DC/DC Switching Converters
• Variable dynamic output voltage adjustment to save energy and reduce heat generation
• Automatic intelligent switching between operating modes to maximize efficiency across all load and battery conditions
• LM3242 supports up to 1A and is compatible with 3G and 4G applications
• LM3243 supports up to 2.5A and is compatible with 2G, 3G, and 4G applications
• High switching frequency, unique operating modes, and chip scale packaging reduce solution size and lower costs

Availability, Pricing and Packaging
The LM3242 is currently available in volume through TI and TI's authorized distributors. The LM3242 is offered in a 9-bump and the LM3243 in a 16-bump micro SMD package. Pricing is $0.76 and $0.95 respectively based on quantities of 1,000 units.

For More Information on TI's Power Management Portfolio
• Order samples and evaluation modules of the new DC/DC converter products: www.ti.com/lm3242-prkr and http://www.ti.com/lm3243-prkr
• Complete TI RF power management IC product information: http://www.ti.com/rfpower-pr
• Ask questions and share knowledge on power-related forums in the TI E2E™ Community: http://www.ti.com/powerforum-pr