Tokyo, Japan, March 21st, 2023 – Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. has launched the NR1620 series voltage regulator with dual input pins to supply low-power microcontroller cores and other applications. The NR1620 is not just a regular CMOS process voltage regulator. With an output current of 150mA, it can handle a wide range of applications and its ultra-low quiescent current of 0.4 µA sets it apart, making it ideal for systems that demand low power consumption and long battery operating times.
What makes the NR1620 unique is its advanced technology, as the input terminal for the regulator driver and internal control circuitry are separated, resulting in a Bias pin to connect a supply voltage for the internal error amplifier, reference voltage circuit, and gate control voltage for the N-channel driver. The other VIN pin connects a supply voltage for the load. This innovative design allows the LDO to regulate very low input and output voltages, even beyond limitations for typical P-Channel driver LDOs. The NR1620 boasts an excellent ripple rejection of 90 dB, ensuring a fast and accurate response to input and output transients and achieving a stable output voltage.
The automatic mode-switching feature of the NR1620 is a testament to its strong features. It enhances battery life, a crucial aspect in portable applications requiring long battery cycles. The NR1620 has a fast mode and a low-power operating mode. The fast mode provides fast transient response and high performance of the LDO but requires a higher current consumption. On the other hand, the low-power mode provides lower current consumption, albeit with a slower transient response as compared to the fast mode. This mode-switching threshold is based on the current demand of the application, and the main benefit is that the enlarged current consumption only occurs when needed.
As for protection, a fold-back current limit circuit is integrated and decreases the output current in case of a short circuit, protecting the LDO and other electronic parts of the application from damage. An inrush current limit circuit prevents output voltage overshoots and undershoots during the start-up period. The LDO has an optional auto-discharge function, and this feature rapidly discharges the output capacitor once the CE pin disables the chip. The NR1620DC in a SOT-23-5 package is under development and expected to be available in May 2024, expanding its potential.
