DDR5 PMICs Enable Smarter, Power-Efficient Memory Modules


Power management has received increasing focus in microelectronic systems as the need for greater power density, efficiency and precision have grown apace. One of the important ongoing trends in service of these needs has been the move to localizing power delivery. To optimize system power, it’s best to deliver as high a voltage as possible to the endpoint where the power is consumed. Then a... » read more

The Growing Importance Of PMIC Validation


In the ever-evolving world of technology, the semiconductor industry plays a pivotal role in shaping the devices we use daily. Among the countless components that make up these devices, Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs) have emerged as unsung heroes, silently ensuring the efficient use of power resources. PMICs are specialized integrated circuits designed to manage and regulate th... » read more

Power-Supply Card Targets High-Voltage PMIC Test


The electronics industry is seeing a move toward higher voltages and currents to deliver sufficient supply and charging power in products ranging from handheld cellphones and tablets to workstations. This trend is evidenced in examples such as the many USB power-delivery (PD) profiles with ratings ranging from 10W (5V at 2A for USB PD 3.0 profile 1) up to 100W (5V at 2A, 12V at 5A, and 20V at 5... » read more

State-Of-The-Art Architectures for Analog Low-Dropout Voltage Regulators


A new technical paper titled "Evaluation and Perspective of Analog Low-Dropout Voltage Regulators: A Review" was published by researchers at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, University of Malaya, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, and University of Macau. Abstract: "Low-dropout regulators (LDOs) are widely adopted in power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and serve as... » read more

End In Sight For Chip Shortages?


The current wave of semiconductor and IC packaging shortages is expected to extend well into 2022, but there are also signs that supply may finally catch up with demand. The same is true for manufacturing capacity, materials and equipment in both the semiconductor and packaging sectors. Nonetheless, after a period of shortages in all segments, the current school of thought is that chip suppl... » read more

Robust Variation-Aware Smart Power Designs For Silicon Success


Power management ICs (PMICs) is a rapidly growing segment in the semiconductor industry. The growth has been fueled by the demand for Smart Power applications that include wearable electronics, mobile computing platforms, printers, hard disk drives (HDD), IoT devices, and the full array of automotive applications. According to a report from market research firm Coherent Market Insights, the gl... » read more

Chip Shortages Grow For Mature Nodes


The current wave of chip shortages is expected to last for the foreseeable future, particularly for a growing list of critical devices produced in mature process nodes. Chips manufactured at mature nodes typically fall under the radar, but they are used in nearly every electronic device, including appliances, cars, computers, displays, industrial equipment, smartphones, and TVs. Many of thes... » read more

Energy Harvesting Shows New Signs of Life


Energy harvesting is seeing renewed activity in select markets, years after some high-profile attempts to build this into consumer electronics stalled out. Costs, manufacturing challenges, and market resistance kept this technology from moving forward, more than a decade after it was being touted as the best way forward for consumer electronics and devices that were hard to access. While sol... » read more

Pandemics And Panic Chip Buying


U.S.-China trade tensions are creating uncertainty in the semiconductor market, but it is also causing another event right now—panic chip buying. At present, some but not all foundry vendors are seeing “rush orders” for select products and are running their fabs at full capacity. It’s not just leading-edge devices, but also mature technologies. A surge of chip orders started in Ma... » read more

Multiphysics Simulations For Power Management ICs


This application brief describes Ansys Totem’s multiphysics capabilities to help you analyze power, thermal and reliability challenges in highly complex power management ICs (PMIC devices). You will understand why Totem’s many features including full-chip capacity, flexible GUI and layout-driven simulation and debug capabilities make it the ideal platform for identifying design issues. From... » read more

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