NUREMBERG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Addressing rapidly shrinking system power budgets and the design complexities associated with applications processors entering the multicore era, Freescale Semiconductor introduces a new generation of power management ICs (PMICs) that work seamlessly with the company’s advanced i.MX 6 applications processors. Freescale’s new PF Series of multifunction PMICs includes products optimized to meet the specific demands of several high-growth applications within the smart mobile devices, automotive infotainment and embedded markets.
Today’s sophisticated and increasingly multiprocessing applications processors deliver new levels of performance, sparking exciting new end-products, but challenging systems designers responsible for driving power envelopes even smaller for slimmer end-product form factors and longer battery life. Freescale’s new PF Series of PMICs are designed to help systems designers and OEMs quickly and easily configure the most power-efficient solutions for their specific application based on Freescale’s advanced i.MX 6 product family. The optimal configurability of PF Series products allows the PMICs to scale across single-, dual- and quad-core i.MX 6 offerings.
Products in the PF Series will support Freescale’s broad i.MX 6 family of SoCs, which integrate multiple power management functions previously handled by discrete PMICs. This allows Freescale’s new PF Series products to in turn incorporate more system-level power management functionality, ultimately resulting in a platform solution that simplifies design, reduces overall power and helps speed time to market. Ease-of-use is further enhanced by the availability of comprehensive reference designs that ship on boards with i.MX 6 processors, application-specific PMICs and software that ties the components together seamlessly.
“Freescale’s next-generation PF Series provides customers with optimal system- level power management for what we call comprehensive Power Fusion,” said Michael Jennings, power management operations manager for Freescale’s Automotive & Industrial Solutions Group. “Our next-generation PF Series reference designs seamlessly blend our latest i.MX 6 processors and configurable PMICs with software and support to give customers a reliable, simplified and accelerated development experience.”
Built for reliability and longevity, PF Series PMICs also offer optimal flexibility, allowing for application-specific power management. The PMICs are programmable, enabling systems designers to deliver voltage levels to the precise requirements of a specific end-product. Additionally, PF Series products are highly configurable. Incorporating one time programmable (OTP) memory allows for the precise partitioning and assignment of power rails to specific cores or other processing technologies.
Freescale has a history of processing leadership in embedded and automotive markets, where extreme environmental conditions drive stringent reliability requirements. Tapping into this expertise, Freescale provides its customers with highly reliable next-generation PMICs designed for the long haul.
PF0100 PMIC devices
Freescale plans to release two versions of its initial PF Series of PMICs: an automotive-grade PF0100 device, and a separate PF0100 version designed for consumer and industrial markets with an operating temperature range of -40 C to +85 C. Both versions configure to support multiple connectivity peripherals, are user programmable with OTP memory, and are housed in QFN packaging with single-row 0.5 mm pitch for cost-effective production. They feature fully programmable startup timing and sequence capabilities. Freescale plans to introduce additional PF Series devices for consumer and other markets in the months ahead.
A demonstration of the PF0100 PMIC is planned at the Embedded World conference in Nuremburg, Hall 4A, Booth # 309.
Availability
Volume production for the PF0100 PMIC is expected in mid-2012.
For more information on Freescale’s PF Series, visit http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?code=PMIC_IMX, and for information regarding i.MX 6 processors, please visit http://www.freescale.com/imx6series.
About Freescale
Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) is a global leader in embedded processing solutions, providing industry leading products that are advancing the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. From microprocessors and microcontrollers to sensors, analog integrated circuits and connectivity – our technologies are the foundation for the innovations that make our world greener, safer, healthier and more connected. Some of our key applications and end-markets include automotive safety, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, next generation wireless infrastructure, smart energy management, portable medical devices, consumer appliances and smart mobile devices. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com
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