Micrel Inc.

Author:
Reported by Cliff Keys, Editorial Director, Editor-in-Chief, Power Systems Design

Date
11/30/2010

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I had the pleasure to meet with Micrel, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Here's a rundown of what Micrel announced. SuperSwitcher IITM Family with New 36V 7A Synchronous Buck DC-DC Converter Micrel, Inc., rolled out a new member of its new SuperSwitcher IITM integrated MOSFET buck regulator family for high power density DC-DC applications. The MIC27600 SuperSwitcher IITM DC-DC buck regulator features Micrel's proprietary Hyper Speed ControlTM architecture, operates over an input supply voltage range from 4.5V to 36V and delivers an output current of 7A. The SuperSwitcher IITM family has been tailored to be AnyCapacitorTM stable independent of output ESR, thus solving the perennial problem that stability power designers have faced with respect to distributed output capacitance. The MIC27600 is currently available in volume quantities, with 1,000 quantity pricing, starting at $2.46. Samples can be ordered at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do. "Leveraging our proprietary Hyper Speed ControlTM architecture and innovative packaging, the MIC27600 delivers increased efficiency with better thermal performance over the entire load range," noted Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog Power, Micrel. "Micrel's SuperSwitcher IITM family is ideal for applications where high power density matters." The MIC27600 is capable of driving DC-DC loads at more than 95 percent efficiency with ±2 percent accuracy, with output adjustable down to 0.8V. Micrel's proprietary Hyper Speed ControlTM control architecture allows for ultra fast transient response requiring significantly lower output capacitance. Operating at a switching frequency of 300kHz, the MIC27600 features an enable pin for very low power shutdown, internal soft start, under-voltage lockout, internal compensation and a host of protection features such as pre-bias safe startup, over temperature protection, foldback current limit and short circuit protection. The MIC27600 buck regulator is available in a thermally-enhanced; lead free 28-Lead 5mm x 6mm MLF® package.

Expanded Lighting Portfolio with New Step-Down HBLED Driver IC Micrel, Inc. launched the MIC3202, a new Step-Down High Brightness LED (HBLED) driver with high-side current sense targeting MR-16 lamps and other general illumination applications. This device reduces the size, complexity and cost of the driver IC solutions for various lighting applications. The MIC3202 is currently available in volume quantities, with pricing starting at $1.29 for 1Ku quantities. Samples can now be ordered at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do "With the ever increasing concern regarding carbon emissions and energy costs, high-efficiency lighting has become one of the highest growth segments of the electronics market," noted Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog Power, Micrel. "Micrel's LED driver products provide the performance, flexibility and ease-of-use required by LED lighting system designers to meet these challenges." The MIC3202 is capable of driving up to eight 1A HBLEDs in series at more than 90 percent efficiency with ±5 percent current accuracy from input voltages of 6V to 37V. With its hysteretic control architecture and high-side current sense scheme, the MIC3202 is well positioned to provide constant current with changes in input voltage and output load. The MIC3202 operating frequency is adjustable up to 1MHz to allow flexibility in the design. The MIC3202 features a dedicated PWM dimming pin allowing ultra wide contrast ratios, an enable pin for very low power shutdown, over temperature protection and UVLO. The MIC3202 has an internal power switch and requires no external compensation. In addition to enhanced power driving capability/reliability, the MIC3202 comes in an exposed pad SOIC-8L package.

Hyper Speed Control™ Family adds 75V Input DC-DC Controller for Industrial, Telecom and Automotive Applications Micrel, Inc. introduced the MIC2176, the latest addition to the Hyper Speed Control™ adaptive on-time controllers family. The device is a high performance 75VIN DC-to-DC controller capable of extremely low step down duty cycles (VIN = 75V; VOUT = 0.8V) and can drive up to 15A of load current. The Hyper Speed Control™ architecture significantly reduces the required output capacitance up to 40 percent when compared to the traditional voltage conversion architectures and allows for excellent transient response. The MIC2176 is currently available in volume quantities with pricing starting at $1.35 for 1Ku quantities. Samples can be ordered on line at: www.micrel.com/ProductList.do. "By pushing the maximum input voltage to 75V, applications that require single stage voltage step down conversion from wide input voltage can take advantage of our unique architecture," stated Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog Power, Micrel. "Micrel's unique Hyper Speed Control™ architecture offers the benefits of reduced bill of materials cost and world class transient response for applications such as industrial equipment, networking infrastructure, automotive electronics and distributed power systems." The MIC2176 is available in three frequency options of 100kHz/200kHz/300kHz and achieves greater than 94 percent efficiency, over a broad load range. The device is Any CapacitorTM stable, making designs very robust and offering the ability to scale down external capacitors. The MIC2176 Hyper Speed Control™ DC-to-DC controller operates over a wide input supply range of 4.5V to 75V and also offers cycle-by-cycle current limiting for MOSFET protection. While the UVLO circuitry ensures proper operation under power-sag conditions to prevent the MOSFETs from overheating, the soft start feature reduces the inrush current. The MIC2176 Hyper Speed Control™ controller is available in a 10-pin MSOP package with an operating junction temperature range from -40°C to +125°C. All supporting documentation including the datasheet can be found on Micrel's website at: www.micrel.com

Breakthrough High Bandwidth Technology Latest In Fully Integrated Power Converter Analog Solutions Also Showcased The SM802xxx family represents the first products from Micrel's ClockWorksTM Flex family, the next generation of high performance programmable Clock Synthesizers. The solutions are aimed at clock and timing ICs for the communication, networking, and storage markets. These devices are configured through fuse-based One Time Programming (OTP) and eliminate the need for lengthy mask spin cycles. Prototypes can be typically supplied to customers within days compared to months using conventional mask optioned technologies, allowing for faster and better optimized clock tree solutions. Offered in 16-pin, 24-pin, 32-pin, and 44-pin QFN package options, the SM802xxx family provides the right-sized solution for customer-defined precision timing requirements, supporting up to 8 differential or 16 single-ended output clocks. The product line augments Micrel's, ClockWorksTM growing family of high performance clock solutions which features ultra-low jitter Clock Synthesizers. These products are well suited for high-speed wireline and wireless communication applications that possess stringent phase noise requirements. The product line also includes the SM84xxx, part of Micrel's standard line of LVCMOS, LVPECL and LVDS Clock Synthesizers offered in 8-pin, 16-pin, 20-pin and 24-pin TSSOP package options. Also featured at the show was the latest in Micrel's line of Analog solutions of Portable and Non-Portable devices as well as innovative Ethernet ICs for the growing European Automotive Ethernet market. Non-Portable Analog The Micrel MIC26xxx SuperSwitcher IITM family is the latest in Micrel's fully integrated power converter solutions. This product line is comprised of three DC-DC buck regulators featuring Micrel's proprietary Hyper Speed ControlTM architecture. The MIC26400, MIC26600 and MIC26950 devices operate with an input supply voltage range from 4.5V to 26V and deliver an output current of 5A, 7A and 12A respectively. The SuperSwitcher IITM family has been tailored to be Any CapacitorTM stable independent of output ESR, thus solving the perennial problem of stability power designers have faced with distributed output capacitance. Coupled with a high level of integration in a small form factor, the SuperSwitcher IITM family delivers uncompromising performance, reduces cycle time, size and costs. The Micrel MIC2176-1/-2/-3 is a family of constant-frequency, synchronous buck controllers featuring a unique digitally modified adaptive ON-time control architecture. The MIC2176 family operates over an input supply range of 4.5V to 75V and can be used to supply up to 15A of output current. The output voltage is adjustable down to 0.8V with a guaranteed accuracy of ± 1%, and the device operates at a constant switching frequency of 100kHz, 200kHz, and 300kHz. Micrel's Hyper Speed ControlTM architecture allows for ultra-fast transient response while reducing the output capacitance and also makes (High VIN)/(Low VOUT) operation possible. The solution is ideal for distributed power systems, networking/telecomm infrastructure and printers, scanners, graphic and video card applications. The MIC3201/02/03 family is capable of driving up to four, 1A HBLEDs in series at more than 90 percent efficiency with ±5 percent current accuracy from input voltages of 4.5V to 20V. With its hysteretic control architecture and high-side current sense scheme, the MIC3201 is well positioned to provide constant current with changes in input voltage and output load. The MIC3201 operating frequency is adjustable up to 1MHz to allow flexibility in the design. The MIC3201 features a dedicated PWM dimming pin, an enable pin for very low power shutdown, over temperature protection and UVLO. The MIC3201 has an internal power switch and requires no external compensation. In addition to enhanced power driving capability/reliability, the MIC3201 comes in an exposed pad SOIC-8L package. Portable Analog The MIC23060 is a highly efficient, Portable power management IC that integrates a high efficiency DC/DC converter with the Company's HyperLight Load™ technology and a post regulating, low voltage capable LDO. The solution includes a flexible sequencing feature that allows users to configure the device for many of the market's latest processors. Targeted applications include mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras and DSP power supplies. With handheld and mobile applications clamoring for longer battery life, the need to manage power efficiently continues to be one of the highest design priorities. Micrel's MIC23060 offers very high efficiency and completely flexible sequencing for today's portable devices. The MIC28xx series is a family of high efficiency White LED (WLED) drivers designed to drive multiple LEDs and greatly extend battery life for portable display backlighting, and keypad backlighting in mobile devices. The MIC2842A architecture provides the highest possible efficiency by eliminating switching losses present in traditional charge pumps or inductive boost circuits. The MIC2843A provides six linear drivers which maintain constant current for up to six WLEDs. With a typical dropout of 40mV at 20mA, the MIC28xx devices allow LEDs to be driven directly from the battery eliminating switching noise and losses present with the use of boost circuitry. The MIC23153 is the highest output current device in the popular HyperLight LoadTM family of synchronous step-down regulators. The patented architecture implemented in the MIC23153 delivers extremely high efficiency light load for portable products and green home/office appliances. The MIC23153 features internal MOSFETs able to deliver up to 2 Amps output current while consuming just 23 micro Amps of quiescent current inside a tiny 2.5mm x 2.5mm Thin MLF® package. As with many other members of the HyperLight LoadTM family of step-down regulators, the MIC23153 achieves up to 93 percent peak efficiency and an impressive 87 percent efficiency under a 1 mil Amp load. In addition, the MIC23153 offers an adjustable soft start to minimize battery transient loading. The MIC5374/84 series features integrated power on reset (POR), user-defined voltage monitoring capabilities, adjustable POR delay time and manual reset for the ever growing portable consumer market. Micrel's new 200mA Triple LDO family is targeted at battery-powered electronic applications including smart phones, personal navigation devices (PND), portable media players (PMP), digital still cameras (DSC), notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), and handheld instruments. The MIC5374/84 is the full featured version, which also includes an ultra low Iq real time clock LDO, all in a small 2.5mm x 2.5mm Thin MLF® package.

Ethernet The KSZ8051/8031 family of ultra low-power, small package single-port 10/100 Physical Layer Transceivers provide the MII or RMII interface to transmit and receive data over standard CAT-5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable or fiber. The solution is based on Micrel's enhanced mixed-signal design which enables power consumption to be reduced by half compared to the prior generation. The devices feature high integration (on-chip termination and integrated regulator), reduced system cost and simplified system design. The ICs also feature higher performance and an extended feature set all in very compact package options. Energy efficiency and compliance to important green standards such as ENERGY STAR are becoming paramount in the digital home making Micrel's new devices a key enabler for the pervasive adoption of IP connectivity in devices such as Digital TVs, Set-Top-Boxes and media players. The KSZ8873/KSZ8863 series are highly integrated 3-port switch-on-a-chip ICs offering the industry's smallest footprint. They are designed to enable a new generation of low port count, cost-sensitive and power efficient 10/100Mbps switch systems. Lower power consumption, advanced power management schemes and sophisticated QoS features (including IPv6 priority classification) make these solutions ideal for IPTV, IP-STB, Voice-over-IP, media converter, automotive and industrial applications. The adoption of Ethernet connectivity in a broad range of consumer, European-based automotive and industrial applications continues to accelerate. Micrel's new devices, featuring improved QoS capabilities, are highly power efficient, making them ideal for green Ethernet switch systems in these burgeoning markets.

Breakthrough Clockworks™ Flex Product Family Highly Configurable Programmable Clock Synthesizer Family That Breaks 100 Femto-Second Jitter Barrier Micrel, Inc. announced the SM802xxx, the first products from Micrel's ClockWorksTM Flex family, the next generation of high performance programmable Clock Synthesizers. The solutions are aimed at high-speed wireline and wireless communications and networking applications. These devices are configured through fuse-based One Time Programming (OTP) and eliminate the need for lengthy mask spin cycles. Prototypes can be typically supplied to customers within days compared to months using conventional mask-optioned technologies, allowing for faster and better optimized clock tree solutions. Offered in 16-pin, 24-pin and 44-pin QFN package options, the SM802xxx family provides the right-sized solution for customer-defined precision timing requirements, supporting up to 8 differential or single-ended output clocks. This enables the generation of practically all standard reference clock frequencies used in high speed serial interfaces such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet, SONET/SDH, Fibre Channel, SAS/SATA, PCIe, sRIO, Infiniband, and CPRI. The new ClockWorks FLEX product line augments Micrel's, ClockWorksTM SM84xxxx family of ultra-low jitter Clock Synthesizers. These products are also well suited for high-performance networking and communications applications that have stringent phase noise requirements. The SM84xxxx, standard line of LVCMOS, LVPECL and LVDS Clock Synthesizers is offered in 8-pin, 16-pin, 20-pin and 24-pin TSSOP package options. The devices are currently available in volume quantities, with pricing for the SM802xxx line, starting at $5.10 for 1K quantities. For samples, please contact your local Micrel sales rep. "The addition of ClockWorks™ Flex SM802xxx programmable Clock Synthesizers and SM84xxxx product families complement Micrel's high-end Precision Edge® clock distribution product portfolio very nicely. These products offer the highest performance available on the market today, with jitter in the sub-100 femtosecond range and excellent Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR)," noted Rami Kanama, director, high bandwidth products, Micrel. "The unrivaled flexibility offered by the programmable ultra-low jitter product family provides designers with the freedom to tailor a device to their exact requirements. In most design cycles, the system clocking requirement is usually determined late in the design phase, so the SM802xxx programmable family can help to significantly accelerate development times. This leads to optimized system performance by providing a customized solution in a fraction of the time normally required for a new clock spin." The new family of ClockWorksTM Flex programmable Clock Synthesizer products along with the SM84xxxx family of clock synthesizers is designed to take a low frequency crystal or system reference clock input and produce very low jitter high frequency differential or single-ended outputs, with frequencies up to 840MHz. They offer a broad range of output types including LVCMOS, LVPECL, LVDS, and HCSL. With hundreds of programmable and standard configurations available in several QFN and TSSOP package options, the lead-free solutions operate at -40C to +85C and are targeted for use in switches/routers, high-end storage and server platforms for enterprise and data center usage, SONET/SDH transport and access equipment, xPON equipment, video servers and cellular base stations. www.micrel.com

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