Reduce Board Space, Noise, and Power Consumption in Automotive Instrument Clusters

Engineers can now design automotive clusters that aresmaller, quieter, and more efficient, thanks to the MAX16993 PMIC from MaximIntegrated Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM).

Automotive OEMs often limit instrument cluster moduleconsumption to less than 100uA in standby mode. Given all the functions thatthe instrument cluster performs, the power supply itself must consume only atiny portion of the power budget. Under no-load conditions, the MAX16993 is theonly 3-channel solution on the market that consumes just 25uA of quiescentcurrent. This makes the PMIC more efficient than traditional DC-DC converters,which often run on several milliamps. Additionally, because the MAX16993integrates a high-switching-frequency controller and two output converterscapable of 3A each, it saves over 50% board space compared to traditionaldiscrete solutions. The device’s 2.1MHz frequency improves AM band noiseavoidance and keeps the external inductors and capacitors small. The MAX16993is ideal for automotive instrument clusters and infotainment applications.

Key Advantages

    —  Small: integrates one high-voltage step-downcontroller and two 3A,

        low-voltagestep-down converters, saving over 50% board space compared

        to discretesolutions.

    —  Efficient: consumes 25uA of quiescent currentunder no-load conditions,

        meeting OEMpower demands.

    —  Quiet: reduces AM band noise; provides aspread-spectrum enable input to

        minimizeradiated electromagnetic interference (EMI); includes

       factory-programmable synchronization I/O to allow better noise immunity.

Commentary

    —  “The MAX16993 offers many best-in-classfeatures in a single chip,” said

        DanDempsey, Executive Director in the Automotive Business Unit at Maxim

        Integrated.”As a result, the MAX16993 is a highly efficient automotive

        powersolution for today’s instrument clusters.”

Availability and Pricing

    —  The MAX16993 is available in a 5mm x 5mm x0.75mm, 32-pin TQFN-EP and a

        5mm x 5mm x0.8mm, side-wettable QFND-EP package.

    —  The device is AEC-Q100 qualified and operatesover the -40-degree to

        +125-degreeautomotive temperature range.

    —  Pricing starts at $5.39 (1000-up, FOB USA).

To ease design, a MAX16993 evaluation kit is available.Hi-res images for the MAX16993 end application and MAX16993 block diagram areavailable.

About Maxim Integrated

At Maxim Integrated, our designs make the world moreintegrated. And with analog integration, the possibilities are endless. InFiscal 2013, we reported revenues of $2.4 billion.

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