nPM1300 PMIC: Efficient Power Management Solution
Nordic Semiconductor has recently announced the launch of the nPM1300™ Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC). This PMIC is a versatile solution for battery-powered applications, offering two highly efficient buck converters, two load switches/low dropout voltage converters (LDOs), and integrated battery charging capabilities. What sets the nPM1300 apart is its ability to consolidate the functionality of multiple discrete components into a single chip, reducing the bill of materials (BoM) for end products. Nordic is also introducing the nPM1300 Evaluation Kit (EK) and the nPM PowerUP PC application, providing developers with an easy and code-free way to evaluate, configure, and implement the nPM1300 PMIC.
One of the standout features of the nPM1300 is its unique system management capabilities and precise energy measurement functions, making it ideal for low-power wireless applications. Utilizing advanced algorithms and monitoring voltage, current, and temperature, the nPM1300 offers higher accuracy in energy measurement compared to traditional voltage-based methods. Additionally, the PMIC boasts significantly lower power consumption than conventional Coulomb counter-type energy meters. Nordic has successfully achieved a delicate balance between high precision and low power consumption, surpassing any competitors in the PMIC market.
Developers working with Nordic's nRF52® and nRF53® series, as well as the latest nRF54H20™ advanced wireless multi-protocol System-on-Chip (SoC), will find the nPM1300 to be the perfect choice for their power management needs. It is also well-suited for applications utilizing the nRF9160™ SiP cellular IoT, providing battery charging functionality through the PMIC's unregulated outputs to power the internal buck regulators of the nRF9160.
Operating within a voltage range of 4.0 ~ 5.5 V for external supply and as low as 2.4 V for battery supply, the nPM1300 features two independent DC/DC buck converters that can be configured between 1.0 and 3.3 V, supporting a maximum current of 200 mA. Two additional power rails can function as load switches, capable of switching currents up to 100 mA from an external supply, but can also act as LDOs when powered directly by the nPM1300. As LDOs, these power rails can be configured to output voltages between 1.0 and 3.3 V, with a maximum output current of 50 mA. The nPM1300 can also provide non-regulated input voltage through its outputs.
The nPM1300 integrates a linear charging module specifically designed for single-cell lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, and lithium iron phosphate batteries. With charging currents of up to 800 mA and programmable terminal voltages ranging from 3.5 to 4.45 V, the module includes automatic thermal regulation, allowing users to set the maximum chip temperature during the charging process.
Other notable features of the nPM1300 PMIC include USB port detection, dynamic power path management, ultra-low current factory and sleep modes with programmable wake-up timers, three LED drivers, and five GPIOs that can be repurposed to control time-critical functions. The nPM1300 finds applications in various fields such as advanced wearable devices and portable medical applications.
To facilitate evaluation and configuration without the need for coding, Nordic offers the nPM1300 Evaluation Kit (EK). By connecting the EK to the nRF Connect for Desktop, a cross-platform development software for Nordic products, users can easily configure the nPM1300 through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). The configured settings can then be seamlessly transferred to the SoC or microcontroller of their IoT application.
The nPM1300 Evaluation Kit (EK) features two USB-C connectors for data and power connections, a JST battery connector suitable for batteries with or without an internal NTC thermistor, and header pins providing access to all connections of the nPM1300. Additionally, the EK includes three LEDs and four buttons that enable users to evaluate the GPIO and LED driver functions of the nPM1300.
