Tokyo, September 18, 2007
Fujitsu Limited today announced the development of a one-chip system power management LSI for ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs), to supply power to the system, memory, and chipsets in UMPCs. Sample shipments for the new LSI product, MB39C308, will start from November 2007.
As an industry first for one-chip integration, this LSI complies with the next version of the LPIA (Low Power Intel Architecture) specification proposed by Intel as a low power platform for UMPCs, and meets the next LPIA platform requirement of a 6 channel DC/DC converter(1) control circuit, while also integrating other peripheral components onto the same single chip. This enables the power management system to be reduced to less than one-third (1/3) the size compared to current products from other companies. Increased efficiency of power supply of this LSI can contribute to extending the operating time of the UMPC's battery.
UMPCs are ultra-compact mobile PCs that despite their small size can run the same OS as regular-sized PCs. UMPCs were launched in 2006, and the market size is forecast to reach 5 million units in 2008 (Fujitsu estimate).
For UMPCs, it is necessary to supply differing voltages to the processor, chipset memory, and other parts. To extend the operating time of the battery, reduction of power consumed by the processor and high-efficiency of the power management LSIs are required. Thus, there is a need for power management LSIs that can enable size reduction of the overall power supply system, including control circuits that can supply a large current with high efficiency from the lithium ion battery.
This new LSI was developed based on such needs, and is the industry's first one-chip power management LSI that conforms to power supply systems specifications necessary for UMPC, as outlined by Intel in the 2008 version of the LPIA platform for UMPCs. This product was jointly developed with Fujitsu VLSI Ltd.
Figure 1: Fujitsu's MB39C308 LSI for UMPCs (unit shown: cm)
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Sample Pricing and Availability
Product name: |
MB39C308 |
Sample Price (including tax): |
JPY1000 |
Availability: |
From November 2007 |
Sales Target
150,000 units per month
Key Features
1. One-chip DC/DC converter control circuit, compliant with next LPIA platform for UMPCs
DC/DC converter control circuits, which generate voltages across 6 different channels and which support power for memory (excluding the processor), the chipset and external systems (various applications such as wireless LAN) as outlined in the 2008 version of the LPIA platform, have been integrated onto a single chip.
2. Realizes high-efficiency power supply required for UMPCs
By utilizing a new LDMOS(2) technology and revising the transistor structure, this new LSI makes it possible to supply power from a lithium ion battery as a large current at high efficiency rates, without dispersion.
3. Reduced size and simplified design of power-managing system through reduction of peripheral components
For the memory and chipset, by integrating into the power management LSI a switching FET(3) capable of driving a large current of 1.5 Amperes to 3.5 Amperes, the number of necessary peripheral components has been reduced. This enables a size reduction of the power management system to less than one-third (1/3) that of conventional products from other companies. In addition, by optimizing various setting components so that they are compliant with the LPIA platform, and embedding them into the power management LSI, effort that had been required in the past to set voltage or current when designing power management systems is now alleviated.
Future Developments
In accordance with growth of the UMPC market, hereafter Fujitsu plans to expand the line-up of its power management LSIs for UMPCs.
Specifications of the MB39C308
Power Supply Voltage |
5.5V~12.6V |
Topology |
Current Mode (*1) 6 Channel (ch) voltage down conversion |
Power Frequency |
700KHz(±20%) fixed |
Output Precision (*2) |
±5.0% (transient response included *3) |
Output Voltage Preset |
Ch1: 5.0V Ch2: 3.3V Ch3: 1.8V/1.5V Ch4: 0.9V/0.75V
Ch5: 1.5V Ch6: 1.1V/1.05V |
Digital Software Start/Stop (*4) |
1.7msec ~ 9msec variation |
Power Good Function (*5) |
Ch1 ~ Ch6,
Ch3 ~ Ch6 (memory, chipset) all power good function embedded |
Protection Function |
UVLO/OCP/OVP/OTP/SCP/IVP (*6) |
Operating Temperature Range |
-30ºC ~ 85ºC |
Package |
Plastic BGA-208 pin |
*1 Current Mode: DC/DC control format with current feedback.
*2 Power Supply Precision: Precision shown is with Fujitsu's evaluation board and evaluation conditions.
*3 Transient Response: Output voltage change corresponding to an output current change.
*4 Digital Software Start/Stop: a function to start and stop the output voltage, that doesn't depend on the output current, by using a digital counter internally in the LSI.
*5 Power Good Function: when the output voltage is 90%~110% of the set value, it outputs a signal.
*6 UVLO/OCP/OVP/OTP/SCP/IVP: Under Voltage Lockout / Over Current Protection / Output Over Voltage Protection / Over Temperature Protection / Short-Circuit Protection / Input Over Voltage Protection.