Below are the mainstream types, core information, and recommended models:
1. Low Dropout Regulator (LDO)
LDOs are basic and commonly used power management chips that achieve stable output by "trimming" excess voltage through linear devices, with an extremely low minimum dropout voltage between input and output.
Core Features: Simple circuit structure, low output noise, fast response, and low quiescent current; however, conversion efficiency is greatly affected by the input-output voltage difference, making them suitable for low-power scenarios.
Typical Applications: Power supply for MCUs, sensors, analog/RF circuits, and low-power supply links in portable devices such as mobile phones.
2. DC-DC Switching Power Supply Chips
These chips realize DC voltage conversion through high-frequency switching of switching transistors. Their core advantage is high conversion efficiency (above 80%-95%), low heat generation, making them suitable for medium and high-current scenarios. They are divided into three categories based on voltage conversion direction:
- Buck (Step-Down): Converts higher input DC voltage to lower output voltage while increasing output current. It is widely used in industrial control, consumer electronics, etc., such as power supply for computer CPUs.
- Boost (Step-Up): Converts lower input DC voltage to higher output voltage, for example, converting 3.7V lithium battery voltage to 5V for USB interfaces. It is commonly used in portable chargers, LED drivers, IoT terminals, etc.
- Buck-Boost: Flexibly realizes voltage step-up or step-down, with output voltage that can be higher or lower than input voltage. Suitable for scenarios with a wide input voltage range, such as battery-powered devices (voltage gradually decreases as power decreases) and portable medical equipment.
3. Battery Management Chips (BMS/Charger IC)
Designed specifically for battery-powered devices, they are core chips that ensure battery safety and extend battery life. Their functions cover the entire process management and protection of battery charging and discharging, and some chips integrated with charging management functions (Charger IC) can directly realize charging control.
Core Functions: Charging current/voltage control (adapting to fast charging and slow charging); overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, and reverse connection protection; state of charge (SOC) estimation; balanced charging (special for multi-cell battery packs to ensure consistent voltage of each cell).
Typical Applications: Lithium battery-powered devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles, new energy vehicles, and IoT sensor nodes.
4. Multi-Channel Power Management Chips (PMIC, Power Management Integrated Circuit)
Highly integrated "one-stop power solutions" that integrate multiple power functions into a single chip, usually including DC-DC converters, LDOs, power path control, protection circuits, and other modules, which can supply power to multiple components of the system simultaneously.
Core Features: High integration, significantly reducing the number of peripheral components and saving PCB space; simplifying circuit design and shortening product development cycles; supporting low-power modes to adapt to energy-saving needs of smart terminals; some can realize parameter programmable configuration through interfaces such as I²C.
Typical Applications: Complex systems requiring multi-channel power supply such as smart terminals (mobile phones, tablets), industrial control motherboards, SoC (System-on-Chip) supporting power supplies, and storage systems.
5. AC-DC Converter Chips
Responsible for converting AC voltage such as mains power into stable DC voltage, they are core components of power adapters for various electronic devices. According to control methods, they can be divided into PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) type, quasi-resonant type, PFC+quasi-resonant composite type, etc., with different types adapting to different power requirements.
Core Features: Need to have isolated or non-isolated design (mains power applications are mostly isolated to ensure safety); conversion efficiency is optimized with power level, and high-voltage input adaptability is strong.
Typical Applications: Power adapters, power boards of household appliances, industrial power modules, server power supplies, etc.
Classification by Application Field (Auxiliary Selection Dimension)
In addition to functions, power management chips are also designed specifically according to the environmental requirements and performance needs of application scenarios, mainly divided into three categories:
1. Consumer-Grade Power Management Chips
Core Requirements: Cost-sensitive, small size, large-scale production, and performance meeting daily consumer scenarios. Applications: Mobile phones, smart wearables, home appliances, digital products, etc.
2. Industrial-Grade Power Management Chips
Core Requirements: Wide operating temperature range (usually -40℃~85℃), high stability, strong anti-interference ability, and long product life cycle (adapting to the long-term use needs of industrial equipment). Applications: Industrial control, power equipment, automation systems, medical monitoring equipment, etc.
3. Automotive-Grade Power Management Chips
Core Requirements: Pass AEC-Q100 and other automotive-grade certifications, with strong surge resistance, transient resistance, high safety level, and ability to adapt to harsh conditions such as high temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic interference in automotive environments. Main Applications: New energy vehicles, automotive control systems, automotive entertainment systems, etc.
Core Selection Criteria: Combine scenarios to focus on input/output voltage range, maximum output current, conversion efficiency, operating temperature, and protection functions to achieve optimal overall system performance.
Common Power Management Chips of Mainstream Brands
The following are the most commonly used power management chip models from mainstream international brands including TI, ADI, ST, ON Semiconductor, Infineon, and Diodes, covering multiple functional types to meet different application needs:
1. Texas Instruments (TI)
- LDO: TPS7A4700 – Ultra-low noise LDO, 1.8V-5.5V input, 0.8V-5.0V adjustable output, 3A maximum current, suitable for high-precision analog circuits and RF modules.
- DC-DC Buck: TPS5430 – 3V-28V input, 1.25V-20V output, 3A output current, high efficiency (up to 95%), widely used in industrial control and consumer electronics.
- Battery Management: BQ24610 – Li-ion battery charger IC, support 1A-5A charging current, with thermal regulation and overvoltage protection, applicable to portable devices.
2. Analog Devices (ADI)
- LDO: LT3094 – Low dropout LDO, 1.2V-20V input, 0.8V-19V output, 1.5A output current, ultra-low noise and high PSRR, ideal for precision measurement equipment.
- DC-DC Buck-Boost: AD8410 – 2.7V-18V input, 2.7V-18V output, 10A output current, high integration and reliability, suitable for automotive and industrial power systems.
- PMIC: ADP5050 – Multi-channel PMIC with 4 DC-DC converters and 2 LDOs, programmable via I²C, applicable to FPGA and SoC power supply.
3. STMicroelectronics (ST)
- LDO: LD1117S – Fixed output voltage (3.3V/5V), 800mA output current, low cost and high stability, widely used in consumer electronics and MCU power supply.
- DC-DC Boost: ST1S10 – 2.5V-5.5V input, 5V-15V output, 1A output current, small package (SOT23-6), suitable for portable USB-powered devices.
- Automotive-Grade PMIC: STPM801 – Automotive-grade multi-channel PMIC, support 4.5V-40V input, with over-temperature and over-current protection, applicable to automotive body control modules.
4. ON Semiconductor (ONSEMI)
- LDO: NCP1117 – 2.5V-18V input, 1.2V-15V output, 1A output current, low dropout voltage, commonly used in embedded systems and IoT devices.
- DC-DC Buck: NCV4275 – Automotive-grade Buck converter, 6V-36V input, 0.8V-5.5V output, 3A output current, with ESD protection, suitable for automotive electronics.
- AC-DC Converter: NCP1239 – 85V-265V AC input, 150kHz switching frequency, built-in protection functions, applicable to small power adapters.
5. Infineon
- DC-DC Buck: TLE8480 – Automotive-grade Buck converter, 6V-18V input, 0.8V-5V output, 4A output current, high reliability, used in automotive engine control units (ECU).
- PMIC: BGT24MTR12 – Multi-channel PMIC for automotive infotainment systems, support multiple voltage outputs, with low power consumption mode.
- Battery Management: BMS6610 – Li-ion battery management IC, support 6-cell battery packs, with cell balancing and protection functions, applicable to electric vehicles.
6. Diodes Incorporated
- LDO: AP7361 – 2.5V-5.5V input, 0.8V-3.3V output, 600mA output current, small package (DFN-6), suitable for wearable devices and smartphones.
Have you encountered challenges in PMIC selection? Share your pain points or successful cases in the comments! Let's discuss and progress together.
