New 16-Channel Power Management IC Unveiled for STM32 AI Processor

STMicroelectronics has recently unveiled a power management IC (PMIC) specifically designed for its multicore 64bit STM32MP2 AI microprocessor. The STPMIC25 power-management IC is equipped with 16 channels to deliver power to all the MPU power rails and system peripherals in a single package. To complete the hardware design, only a minimal number of external components are required for filtering and stabilization. Developers can kickstart their projects with the STEVAL-PMIC25V1 evaluation board, which is readily available for development purposes.

The IC boasts seven DC-DC buck converters and eight low-dropout (LDO) regulators, along with an additional LDO dedicated to providing the reference voltage (Vref) for system DDR3 and DDR4 DRAMs. Notably, one of the LDOs is specifically designed to power USB High-speed and Type-C PHY ICs. Moreover, there are general-purpose LDOs that can be allocated to power various circuitry such as memory card interfaces and Ethernet ports.

The buck converters within the IC are optimized to cater to the MPU's CPU, core circuitry, GPU, I/O, and analog domains, with additional channels allocated for DDR RAM supply and a general-purpose auxiliary output. These converters are engineered with fast transient response and low ripple under a wide range of operating conditions to meet the specific power requirements of the MPU's domains. All converters utilize adaptive constant on-time control for enhanced efficiency, incorporating spread-spectrum frequency modulation and phase-shifted switching with advanced synchronization techniques to minimize EMI.

Each converter is capable of operating in high-power or low-power mode, which can be controlled by the application software, enabling the host system to optimize energy savings by reducing converter quiescent currents. Furthermore, all buck converters and LDOs can be individually enabled or disabled based on the system's requirements.

The STPMIC25, currently in production, is housed in a compact 6.5mm x 6.5mm 56-lead WFQFN package, standing at just 0.9mm high. Pricing for the IC starts from $3.38 for orders of 1000 pieces, and free samples can be obtained from ST eSTore. Additionally, the STEVAL-PMIC25V1 evaluation board is available for purchase on the eSTore platform or through authorized distributors.