austriamicrosystems, a leading provider of power management units for mobile devices has launched its first power and lighting management standard product, the AS3681. The AS3681 is a highly integrated, real-time programmable device. Ideal for mobile applications such as cellular phones, PDAs and digital cameras, it addresses all lighting functions in addition to display and sensor bias supply applications.

A high-power charge pump, featuring a power conversion efficiency of up to 95% and supporting fractional conversion with 1x, 1.5x and 2x modes, delivers up to 600mA to drive ultra-bright Flash LEDs or power torch applications. The Flash, which can be synchronised with an external strobe signal by using a GPIO input, also supports a preview mode. A total of four GPIO pins provide access to an internal 10bit ADC (2 inputs) to take ambient light conditions into consideration or to apply external PWM signals to control the current sinks determining LED brightness. The AS3681 integrates eleven 4bit programmable current sinks with currents starting at 2.5mA and reaching up to 37.5mA, 150mA or 300mA.

A second charge pump allows for generation of high positive and negative supply voltages for different displays - for example TFT (e.g. +/-15V, 5mA) or OLED (e.g. -6V, 10mA). The on-chip, highly efficient, programmable DC/DC step up converter provides up to 40V, 20mA to drive up to eight white LEDs with a constant current. The same DC/DC converter can also be used to efficiently bias CCD (charge coupled devices) applications.

" All of the functions of the AS3681 are real-time programmable via a serial Interface," said Alexander Harrer, senior vice president of austriamicrosystems' communications business. "Furthermore, design engineers can use software to optimally configure the AS3681 to suit different system architectures. Backlighting for example can be realised with two different LED configurations. Engineers can apply several white LEDs in series, biased by the DC/DC step up, or they can place up to 11 LEDs in parallel, driven by the high-power charge pump."

Individual access to all of the functional blocks enables the ICs power consumption to be fully optimised, eventually leading to less than 1µA in shut down mode.

Available in a small QFN32, 5x5mm package, the device consumes approximately 40% less PCB space, and costs up to 30% less than comparable discrete solutions.

An evaluation kit, including engineering samples, an evaluation board and easy-to-use software to speed up IC evaluation, are available on request. Volume production is scheduled for June 2004.

About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems AG is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly integrated analog intensive mixed signal ICs. austriamicrosystems combines more than 20 years of design capabilities, product and marketing know-how with its own cutting edge analog manufacturing and test facilities. Operating worldwide with more than 800 employees, austriamicrosystems serves four strategic markets: Communications, Industry & Medical, Automotive and
Full-Service Foundry.