Streamline Your Power Design Using Programmable PMIC Solutions

Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs) are crucial in modern electronics, offering highly integrated power solutions with multiple power rails and General-Purpose Input Output (GPIOs) within a single IC. PMICs offer compact size, integration and streamlined supply chain benefits. However, many PMIC solutions cannot provide easy customization from one application to another, and therefore, engineers sometimes struggle to integrate them into their designs. But now there is a solution to this challenge. This article explores how Qorvo's ActiveCiPS™ PMIC technology offers the benefits of customization while eliminating design hurdles. This makes a single PMIC ideal for many mass-market applications.

The Promise of PMICs

Board designers working with space-constrained systems quickly recognize the advantages of PMICs, primarily their small footprint and feature-rich integration. Finding a PMIC that meets the system's power requirements in terms of the number of rails and current handling capabilities is generally straightforward. However, the challenge arises when designers delve into the datasheet and realize that the default settings of the selected PMIC do not align with their load requirements. Most mass-market PMICs require customization before they can be effectively used.

Learn MoreDownload the Qorvo ActiveCiPS™ PMIC Brochure

At this juncture, designers must weigh the pros and cons of a discrete versus a PMIC solution. However, as you will discover in this article, Qorvo PMICs provide a solution. Table 1 provides a high-level comparison, illustrating that PMICs generally offer superior benefits.

Table 1: Discrete vs. PMIC Solution Comparison.

Size and Component Count

Figure 2 showcases a side-by-side comparison between a discrete and a PMIC power solution. Both solutions provide three buck converters, two low-dropout (LDO) regulators, customized sequencing, and multiple GPIOs, including Enable, nRESET, nIRQ and a DVS input. The PMIC solution is 80% smaller and contains 75% fewer components.

Figure 1: Discrete vs. PMIC Power Solution - Three Bucks + Two LDOs.

In real-world applications, the ACT88329 PMIC from Qorvo, as shown in Figure 2, demonstrates these advantages. It integrates three buck converters, two LDOs, customized sequencing, two low power modes, on-the-fly voltage DVS, automatic configurable startup voltages and a microprocessor interface for on-the-fly configuration changes-all in a compact form factor as shown in below Figure 2 inside the red box.

Figure 2: Real-World ACT88329 PMIC.

Layout Considerations

A discrete solution offers full flexibility in setting output voltages and designing startup sequencing. However, this flexibility demands numerous discrete components and significantly more PC Board (PCB) area. The startup sequencing requires PCB traces between each power supply's power-good outputs and enable inputs, plus additional RC filters to provide the necessary delays. Furthermore, system-level GPIO functionality necessitates additional glue logic. This increased complexity translates to higher project costs and more material management challenges.

Conversely, an integrated PMIC solution incorporates startup sequencing control within the IC, allowing outputs to be independently configurable with any required sequencing and delay. Changes to output voltages or sequencing are easily managed through the PMIC's internal register values. GPIO functionality is also integrated with advanced PMICs like the ACT88321 and ACT88420, enabling on-the-fly reconfiguration of GPIO functions.

Overcoming Traditional PMIC Limitations

Despite the advantages of PMICs, not all are created equal. Many PMICs have restrictive default settings, such as fixed sequencing, fixed output voltages and minimally flexible GPIOs. Some PMICs with sequencing programmability require multiple IC pins, increasing cost and complexity. Others implement this via an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) or proprietary digital communication, which presents a catch-22: the system host needs power to configure the PMIC, but the PMIC needs configuration to power the host.

Moreover, for output voltage programmability, some PMICs use discrete resistors for feedback dividers or pin-strap default voltage settings, adding cost and component count. But Qorvo programmable PMIC solutions remove these hurdles head-on.

Qorvo's ActiveCiPS™ Technology

To address these challenges, Qorvo offers ActiveCiPS™ technology for full flexibility over default output voltages, startup sequencing, low power modes, GPIO functionality and more. This customization is achieved without additional IC pins, component count or extra cost. The ActiveCiPS™ technology supports comprehensive PMIC programming using internal registers, enabling changes to default settings through programming options rather than metal mask changes.

Qorvo provides standard evaluation boards with generic configurations. Using the ActiveCiPS dongle and GUI, customers can modify default settings and save them into the evaluation kit for testing.

Figure 3: Qorvo's ActiveCiPS Dongle Connected to an Evaluation Kit.

Flexible and Efficient Development

Once customers finalize their default settings using the evaluation kit, they can build and test their first PCB. Changes to initial power requirements usually necessitate PCB and component adjustments. However, Qorvo's PMICs eliminate the need for a PCB spin. ActiveCiPS™ allows customers to test configurations in their development environment without delays associated with PCB changes or waiting for new IC shipments.

Configuration changes via standard I2C commands also enable Qorvo customers to purchase ICs with existing default configurations and make minor adjustments. For instance, the ACT88329VU108 PMIC is configured to power the Atmel SAMA5D3 processor but allows for system-level optimizations through I2C commands, allowing for rapid customization and delivery.

Conclusion

Engineers seeking customized power solutions now have a superior option with Qorvo's PMICs. These PMICs offer the flexibility of discrete designs without the drawbacks of increased PCB size, component count and procurement complexities. They combine the benefits of PMICs, such as small size, reduced component count and ease of use, with the ability to provide rapid, customizable solutions for mass-market customers. Qorvo's ActiveCiPS™ technology effectively bridges the gap between customization and efficiency, making it a game-changer in the PMIC market.

About the Authors

Our authors bring a wealth of technical expertise in developing and optimizing power solutions. With a deep understanding of customer needs and industry trends, they collaborate closely with our design teams to drive innovation and deliver cutting-edge solutions that support industry-leading products.

Thank you to our main contributors of this article; Jon Alejandro (Analog Products Marketing Manager), David Schnaufer (Corporate, Technical Marketing Manager), Adam Castaldo (Strategic Marketing/Communications Manager) and Michael Day (Sr. Manager Applications Engineering) for their contributions to this blog post, ensuring our readers stay informed with expert knowledge and industry trends.