STMicroelectronics announced the STOD13AS - a new miniature AMOLED power supply chip. The new chip is produced using ST's innovative Silicon On Insulator (SOI) process technology, which ensures outstanding energy efficiency and results in longer battery life. The chip offers high immunity to cellphone-communication noise - and thus minimizes flicker on the display.
ST explains that the new chip is better than the predecessor (the ST0D03A) because it integrates the step-up and inverting DC/DC converters needed to generate the positive and negative supplies on the same chip. It also features increased display-driving capability as well as additional short-circuit and overload protection modes to maximize ruggedness and reliability. When the display is not used, the new chip can be completely turned off which saves more power, and it also features pulse-skipping operation that optimizes efficiency when the display is consuming minimal power.
ST says that they already supply over 80% of the world’s ICs for powering AMOLED displays. AMOLED have more complex power requirements than LCDs and need both a positive and negative voltage.
Major features of STOD13AS:
- Advanced Silicon-on-Insulator manufacturing technology
- Typical efficiency of 85%
- Output current capability increased from 200mA to 250mA
- Low output ripple and high immunity to GSM noise
- 1.5MHz operating frequency enabling small external components
- 2.5V-4.5V input voltage range
- +4.6V positive output
- User-programmable negative output voltage
The new chip is already in mass production in the DFN12L 3 x 3mm package. It costs $1.08 (for orders of 1,000 units), or cheaper for high volume orders.
