Step-up convertor IC is ideal for display applications

The new A8483 from Allegro MicroSystems Europe is a 1.2 MHz step-up convertor IC which is ideally suited to use as a power supply in display bias applications. The new five-pin device is ideal for battery-powered applications, but can also be used in applications such as plasma or LCD TV bias.

The current-mode step-up DC/DC convertor includes an integrated 36 V FET and comes in a small 3 ´ 3 10-lead thermally enhanced MLP/TDFN lead-free package. It can be used with lithium or alkaline NiMH batteries.

Input voltage can range from 2.5 V to 10 V when the device is connected directly to a battery or input rail and from 0.9 V to 18 V when an external bias supply is connected. It delivers 15 V at 15 mA with 2.7 V input, and the output voltage can be set up to 35 V. Typical switch current is 350 mA and shutdown current 1 mA.

The IC requires minimal external components which, when combined with the use of integrated switching, reduces component count and leads to a small PCB ‘footprint’ in a variety of applications. The use of a constant 1.2 MHz switching frequency also provides low-noise operation.

Typical applications for the A8483 include portable battery-powered equipment such as mobile telephones, PDAs, camcorders, personal stereos, MP3 players, cameras, mobile GPS systems and HD TVs.