Wolfson addresses mainstream power management
1 min read
Wolfson Microelectronics has entered the mainstream power management ic market with the launch of the WM8320, an integrated device intended to maximise processor performance and to extend the battery life of portable multimedia devices.
The WM8320 incorporates Wolfson's BuckWise regulator technology, which enables the power management integrated circuits to cope with shifts in power requirements, as different product functions are switched on and off. The regulator technology eliminates disturbances in the power supply outputs without the need for large external components or a reduction in processor speed. The WM8320 can also be used in applications where there is no system battery, such as set top boxes.
However, this isn't new territory for Wolfson; it has three existing power management devices, but these integrate its audio codec technology. Jess Brown, Wolfson's product line manager, said customers now want to have power solutions that work across multiple applications and multiple generations. "And they don't always want audio and power management functionality in the same place," he noted.
The WM8320 has four dc/dc synchronous regulators, two of which have BuckWise technology and are rated at 1.2A. The remaining two regulators are 1A devices which can be grouped to generate a 1.6A output, allowing designers to support large memory banks or to increase efficiency by preregulating any of the ten LDOs integrated in the WM8320.
