Edinburgh, UK, July 20th 2010 – Wolfson Microelectronics plc has today announced the introduction of the WM8321, the latest innovative power management device in Wolfson’s world-leading power management portfolio.
The WM8321 offers a flexible, cost-effective, single chip power management solution and is specifically designed for low power portable consumer applications, including smartphones, e-book readers, netbooks and portable media players, as well as any application with a multimedia processor.
The WM8321 features four programmable DC-DC synchronous buck converters, which deliver high performance and high efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions, and eleven LDO regulators, four of which are low noise for supplying sensitive analog subsystems. The integrated one-time programmable (OTP) memory helps reduce time to market by controlling the converter and regulator start-up sequencing and voltages, as well as the sequencing of GPIOs and system blocks.
In addition to the OTP memory, the WM8321 features an InstantConfig™ Interface (ICE) which allows multiple start-up sequences to be tested via an external EEPROM. Once the optimized start-up has been verified, it can be submitted for writing to the OTP with full confidence that the system will power up first time.
Another key advantage of the WM8321 is the QFN package which is customized to provide optimal thermal performance, suitable for single side component placement on low cost PCBs. The QFN package enables inexpensive four layer printed circuit boards and allows the use of large PCB tracks for the DC-DC converters that reduce parasitic components and improves transient performance and efficiency.
With a standby power consumption of <7 uA, the WM8321 also features a 12-bit auxiliary ADC which supports a wide range of applications for internal as well as external sampling, such as voltage detection and temperature measurement. A secure real-time clock (S-RTC) and alarm function is also included, which is capable of waking up the system from low power modes, while a watchdog function is provided to ensure system integrity.
Jess Brown, Wolfson’s Product Line Manager for Power Management, said, “As Wolfson’s latest power management device, the WM8321 supports the majority of low power consumer applications and mobile processors, and enables system designers to incorporate an impressive range of features into their products. The new QFN custom package enables low cost manufacturing, while improving efficiency and performance. Wolfson has established a strong reputation in providing world-leading power management solutions for the next generation of consumer electronics applications, and the WM8321 is the perfect addition to Wolfson’s world-class power management portfolio.”
Availability
The WM8321 is available for sampling now in an 8×8 mm 81-lead QFN package, priced at $3.80 in 1K volume. WM8321 customer evaluation boards are available to aid device evaluation and development.
About Wolfson Microelectronics
Wolfson Microelectronics is a global leader in the supply of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductor solutions to the consumer electronics market. In the home, in the office and on the move, Wolfson’s innovative technology can be found at the heart of many of the world’s leading digital consumer goods, including premier hi-fi equipment, mobile phones, MP3 players, flat panel TVs, digital still cameras and portable navigation devices.
The company’s headquarters is located in Edinburgh, UK. Wolfson’s customers are located worldwide, and so is Wolfson, with design centers, sales offices, applications teams and engineering expertise across Europe, the US andAsia. Wolfson Microelectronics plc is listed on the London stock exchange (LSE: WLF.L).
For more information about Wolfson Microelectronics, please visit: http://www.wolfsonmicro.com
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