ON Semiconductor today introduced two new high frequency DC-DC converters with low-battery detectors for use in portable and wireless electronics including PDAs, digital cameras and handheld instruments. The NCP1410 and NCP1411 are micro-powered, monolithic, pulse frequency modulation (PFM), step-up voltage-switching DC-DC converters. Both devices feature open drain low-battery detectors that help simplify power system design. Configured for use in battery operated handheld electronics with up to 250 milliamps (mA) loading current, these devices deliver adjustable output voltages between 1.5 volts (V) and 5.5 V. A synchronous rectifier has been integrated into each device ý improving power system efficiency, eliminating the need for external schottky diodes and reducing overall board space. Delivering a high switching frequency of up to 600 kilohertz (kHz), these converters allow power system designers to use low profile inductor and output capacitors. That helps to reduce board space and cost significantly and also lowers output voltage ripple noise. Both devices include logic-controlled shutdown and 1 Amp (A) cycle-by-cycle current limit features. To ensures quiet operation in discontinuous conduction mode and reduce ElectroMagnetic Interference (EMI), an innovative Ring-Killer feature has been added to the NCP1411. To eliminate the ringing at LX pin that typically occurs when an electronic device working in discontinuous conduction mode, an internal damping switch (M3) has been implemented in the NCP1411. The damping switch (M3) provides a low impedance path to dissipate the residual energy that was stored in the inductor during the switch-off period of the discontinuous conduction mode. As a result, the unwanted ringing and EMI created by the capacitance and inductance at the LX node are eliminated. Bringing high performance with all these features, the NCP1410 and NCP1411 DC-DC converters deliver an impressive power efficiency of 92 percent and a low quiescent supply current of 9 microamps (mA). As such, they assist in further extending the battery life so critical to designers and manufacturers of leading-edge portable and wireless electronics. Both the NCP1410 and NCP1411 are offered in the space-saving 3 mm x 5 mm Micro-8 package. The NCP1410 is priced at $0.85 per unit in 10,000 unit quantities. The NCP1411 is $1.00 per unit in 10,000 unit quantities.

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