DALLAS /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) introduced five new next-generation power management integrated circuits that efficiently acquire and manage microwatts (µW) to milliwatts (mW) of power harvested from light, heat, or mechanical energy sources. "The bq25570, bq25505, TPS62740, TPS62737, and TPS62736 maintain the industry's lowest levels of active quiescent current and enable battery-free operation to wireless sensor networks, monitoring systems, wearable medical devices, mobile accessories, and other applications with limited access to power." To order samples and development kits, visit the company's Web site.
Nano-Power Harvesting
TI's new bq25570 boost charger with integrated buck converter consumes a miniscule 488 nA of quiescent current and achieves greater than 90% efficiency at output currents lower than 10 µA, maintaining high efficiency even at the lowest amount of available power. The device features maximum power point tracking to extract and manage power from photovoltaic cells and thermoelectric generators, and supports any energy storage element, such as a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, thin-film battery, super capacitor, or conventional capacitor. During long periods of storage, power to the bq25570 can be disabled through a "ship mode" feature, which allows the device to consume less than 5 nA.
The bq25505 boost charger is similar to the bq25570, but achieves an even lower active quiescent current of 325 nA. The bq25505 features a unique, autonomous power multiplexor gate drive that enables seamless system operation from energy harvesting sources and the primary battery, ensuring constant power is available when the system needs to operate, even when no energy is available from the harvester.
Ultra-Low-Power DC/DC Converters
In addition to the battery management circuits, TI introduced the TPS62740, the smallest and lowest power buck converter for 300 mA output current designs, providing 360 nA of quiescent current during active operation and 70 nA during standby. The converter achieves greater than 90% efficiency down to 10 µA. Achieving a total solution size of 31 mm2, the converter uses a programmable output voltage feature and DCS-Control functionality to power microcontrollers, such as TI's ultra-low-power MSP430FR59xx microcontrollers (MCUs) and Bluetooth low energy solutions, such as the SimpleLink CC2541 wireless MCU. The TPS62740's integrated load switch also conserves the power of components like LEDs or sensors used temporarily.
For lower current designs, TI's new TPS62737 converter for 200 mA designs and TPS62736 for 50 mA designs provide an ultra-low 370 nA quiescent current during active operation and 15 nA during sleep, while achieving 90% efficiency at output currents lower than 15 µA.
Enabling Energy Harvesting Design
As the leading provider of power management integrated circuits and MCUs, TI is taking low-power design to the next level with innovative products that extract and manage energy from ambient sources with the highest efficiency and lowest power consumption. In 2011, TI introduced its bq25504 boost charger circuit with a low quiescent current of 330 nA. TI also provides boost converters, buck converters, and battery chargers that support any low-voltage, low-power design requirement.
Availability and Pricing
All products are shipping in volume production and are available through TI's worldwide distributor network. The bq25570 and bq25505 come in a 3.5 mm by 3.5 mm QFN package and are priced at $3.20 and $2.40, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities. The TPS62740 comes in a tiny 2 mm by 3 mm SON package and is priced at $1.10 in 1,000-unit quantities. The TPS62737 and TPS62736 are available in a 3.5 mm by 3.5 mm QFN package and are priced at $1.00 and $0.80, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities.
Find out more about TI's nanopower power management portfolio by visiting the links below:
- Order evaluation modules for bq25570EVM-206 and bq25505EVM-218 and download the PSpice transient model simulation software for bq25570 and bq25505 to simplify design and reduce development time.
- Evaluation modules for the low-power DC/DC converters include: TPS62740EVM-186, TPS62737EVM-560, and TPS62736EVM-205.
- Search for solutions, get help and share knowledge in the Power Management Forum in the TI E2E Community.
About TI
Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today.
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