Renesas Introduces Buck-Boost DC/DC Converter for Sensors, MCUs, Wireless Devices

Japanese semiconductor specialist Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced the ISL9122A, a flexible buck-boost switching regulator with bypass mode that provides ultra-low quiescent current (IQ) for powering sensors, microcontrollers (MCUs), wireless devices, and other system components.

Operating with battery output from 1.8V to 5.5V, the ISL9122A extends the battery life of smart IoT devices powered by coin-cell, lithium and multiple series alkaline batteries. Target applications include wireless earbuds, fitness bands, smart watches, water and gas meters, portable medical devices, and a wide range of battery-operated smart IoT devices.

The ISL9122A buck-boost switching regulator implements dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) in I2C programmable 25mV steps to optimize system power consumption. The regulator’s power boost up to 5.375V maximizes RF capabilities of IoT devices across their battery range. Its PFM and PWM functionality maximizes efficiency over the whole output current range. In forced PWM mode, the regulator always switches at 2.5MHz frequency, which improves EMI performance of the system.

Commenting on the development, Andrew Cowell, Vice President, Mobility, Infrastructure and IoT Power Business Division at Renesas, said “with the explosive growth of IoT wireless connectivity applications, the ISL9122A buck-boost regulator’s fast transitions from no load to full load is ideal for powering the newest generation of devices.”

“Our customers praise the ISL9122A’s flexibility, dynamic voltage scaling and lowest regulated standby power consumption,” Cowell added.

Moreover, the ISL9122A buck-boost regulator has joined the recently released ISL9123 buck regulator. Both ultra-low IQ switching regulators can power the Renesas RL78 Family of 8/16-bit ultra-low energy MCUs, RA Family of 32-bit MCUs with Arm® Cortex®-M Core, and the RE Family of embedded controllers for wearables and energy harvesting applications.

Meanwhile, the ISL9122A is available now from the company’s worldwide distributors and is priced at USD 0.89 USD (8-lead DFN package) and USD 0.78 USD (8-bump WLCSP package) each in 1,000-unit quantities. While, two ISL9122A evaluation boards that allow designers to evaluate device features and performance are also available: ISL9122AIRN-EVZ with 3.3V default output (DFN) and ISL9122AIIN-EVZ with 3.3V default output (WLCSP), both priced at USD 70 USD.