Intersil Introduces Smallest Footprint and Highest Efficiency PMIC for Application Processors, GPUs, FPGAs and System Power

Intersil, a subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), today introduced a highly integrated programmable power management IC (PMIC) that delivers 91% efficiency at 1.1V output voltage for application processors, GPUs, FPGAs and high-performance system power. The new PMIC’s low RDS(on) MOSFETs and programmable PWM frequency allows designers to use fewer low-profile external components, enabling a 50mm² power-supply that is 40% smaller than competing solutions. The ISL91211 triple/quad output PMIC is ideal for smartphones, tablet computers, solid-state drives, networking and wireless Internet of Things (IoT) devices powered by single-cell Lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries, or 2.5V – 5.5V power supplies.

The ISL91211 leverages Intersil’s latest R5™ modulation technology to provide the industry’s fastest single-cycle transient response and highest switching frequency (4MHz) during load transients. Quiescent current is only 62μA while the ISL91211 is regulating the output voltage. The PMIC’s superior light load efficiency, regulation accuracy and fast dynamic response prolong battery life.

The ISL91211 PMIC includes highly efficient synchronous buck converters capable of multiphase and single-phase operation while delivering up to 5A per phase of continuous output current. The PMIC’s four integrated buck controllers dynamically reconfigure their power stages to address a wide range of applications with high efficiency and high output power. Precise current sensing allows the ISL91211 to automatically and smoothly add or drop phases to optimize power efficiency, and provide overcurrent protection without requiring DCR or resistor sensing circuits at the inductor.

“The latest generation of application processors requires a new PMIC modulation architecture that can dramatically shrink solution size and increase efficiency,” said Andrew Cowell, senior vice president of Mobile Power Products at Intersil. “The ISL91211 employs Intersil’s new R5 modulator to deliver blazingly fast transient performance and everything designers need to simplify board layout and dynamically scale power supply performance to meet the requirements of today’s multi-core processors.”

Key Features and Specifications of ISL91211

• Available in two factory configurable options:
  • ISL91211A: four-phase, three output rails configured as 2+1+1 phase
  • ISL91211B: four-phase, four output rails configured as 1+1+1+1 phase
• 5A maximum current per phase up to 20A with four phases
• R5 modulator architecture balances current loads with smooth phase adding and dropping for power efficiency optimization
• Automatic diode emulation mode for 91% efficiency at 1.1V output voltage
• Less than 0.1uA quiescent current (Iq) when EN=0V, and 17uA when EN=3.7V
• Independent dynamic voltage scaling for each output
• Input voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V
• ±0.7% system accuracy; Output voltage remote sensing for accurate voltage regulation at the point-of-load
• I²C and SPI programmable output from 0.3V to 2V
• Soft-start and full protection against undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature

The ISL91211A triple-output PMIC and ISL91211B quad-output PMIC can be combined with Intersil ISL91127 high efficiency buck-boost regulators to provide application processor and subsystem peripheral rails for battery-operated products.

About Intersil’s R5 Modulation Technology

Intersil’s proprietary R5 modulation technology is at the heart of its new single-phase and multiphase PMICs that shrink power supply size and extend battery life. The R5 modulator provides the highest efficiency, tight output accuracy and load regulation, ultra-fast transient response, and seamless DCM/CCM transitions. R5’s advanced current balance architecture enables smooth phase adds and drops, flexible digital tuning, fast VID transitions, and single-cycle transient response, even from low Iq to multiphase modes.

Pricing and Availability

The ISL91211 PMIC is available in two options: ISL91211A triple-output PMIC and ISL91211B quad-output PMIC supplied in 2.511mm x 3.610mm, 54-ball WLCSP packages. Both PMIC options are available now and priced at $3.90 USD in 1k quantities. For more information on the ISL91211, please visit: www.intersil.com/products/isl91211.