National Semiconductor Introduces Flexible Power Management Unit for Portable Devices

January 5th, 2005

National Semiconductor Corporation today announced the first in a new family of multi-functional, dynamically programmable products for powering advanced application and communication processors based on ARM technology, including Intel’s XScale processor family. National’s new single-chip, flexible power management unit (FlexPMU) features 12 integrated power domains for reduced board space and increased efficiency.

"National Semiconductor's power management solution is an outstanding complement to the Intel® PXA27x applications processor. By leveraging technologies like Wireless Intel® SpeedStep technology, Intel is able to offer more granularity in the balance of power and performance and enhance the end user experience by promoting longer battery life,” said Mark Casey, director and general manager of Intel’s Application Processor Business Unit.

The LP3970 FlexPMU dramatically reduces board space and significantly lowers overall cost in handheld devices including cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras and other handheld products. Each FlexPMU supports real-time, software-controlled Dynamic Voltage Management (DVM), a feature that reduces overall system power consumption. The full-featured LP3970 FlexPMU combines an efficient set of programmable power supplies and a flexible back-up battery management system.

The LP3970 FlexPMU is fully compatible with Intel’s XScale product family and other processors designed for mobile use. It operates from a one-cell Li-Ion/Li-Polymer battery pack and is available in a space-saving package.
“Today’s portable electronic markets demand more compact, higher-performance power solutions,” said Peter Henry, vice president of National Semiconductor’s Portable Power Products Group. “National’s new FlexPMU is a comprehensive design that provides high efficiency, reduces overall power consumption, and minimizes board space for products utilizing ARM-based applications processors.”