Fujitsu Launches High-Efficiency Power-Management IC for Ultra-Mobile PCs

Supports 2008 Version of LPIA Platform, Substantially Reduces Board Area of Power Management

Sunnyvale, CA, September 20, 2007 ¡ª Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) today announced the development of a one-chip system power management IC for ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs). The new device, the MB39C308, is designed to supply power to the system, memory, and chipsets in UMPCs. Sample shipments will begin in November 2007.

As an industry first for one-chip integration, the MB39C308 complies with the upcoming version of the Low Power Intel Architecture (LPIA) specification proposed by Intel Corporation as a low-power platform for UMPCs. The MB39C308 also meets the next-generation LPIA platform requirement of a six-channel DC/DC converter control circuit, while integrating other peripheral components onto the chip. This enables the power management system to be reduced to less than one-third the size of other similar products. The increased efficiency of the new device¡¯s power supply is a major factor in extending the operating time of the UMPC battery.

The MB39C308 was jointly developed with Fujitsu VLSI Limited, utilizing Laterally Diffused MOS (LDMOS) technology. By using an LDMOS technology and revising the transistor structure, the MB39C308 supplies power from a lithium-ion battery at high-efficiency rates without dispersion. The DC/DC converter control circuits incorporated in the chip generate voltages across six different channels and support power for memory, the chipset and external systems such as wireless LAN, as required in the 2008 version of the LPIA platform.

Also, a switching FET integrated in the MB39C308 can drive a current of 1.5 Amps to 3.5 Amps. This benefits the memory and chipset, reducing the number of peripheral components and the size of the power management system. In addition, by optimizing components to comply with the LPIA platform and embedding them into the power management IC, it becomes possible to eliminate the requirement to set voltage or current when designing power management systems.

¡°Ultra-compact mobile PCs can run the same operating system as regular-sized PCs. UMPCs were launched in 2006, and we forecast the market will reach five million units in 2008,¡± said Davy Yoshida, director of Business Development of Fujitsu Microelectronics America.

¡°For these UMPCs, it is necessary to supply differing voltages to the processor, chipset memory, and other parts. To extend the operating time of the battery, processor consumption must be reduced and power management ICs are required in order to reduce power supply system size, including control circuits that can supply a large current with high efficiency from a lithium ion battery,¡± Yoshida said.

Specifications of the MB39C308

Samples of the MB39C308, packaged in 208-pin BGAs, will be available in November with prices starting at $9 each.

Specifications of the MB39C308