AOS Targets Intel Panther Lake With Low-Quiescent-Power Controllers

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOS) has introduced a new family of digital multiphase controllers, designed to ship Vcore energy to Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake cellular processors. 

The three controllers—AOZ71049QI, AOZ71149QI, and AOZ71146QI—are engineered to satisfy Intel’s IMVP9.3 energy supply specification and draw as little as 5.9 mA of quiescent present at PS0 in a 3+2+1+1 configuration, a determine AOS says is the bottom within the {industry} for this class of gadget.

AOS says it engineered the brand new four-rail controllers particularly for Intel IMVP9.3 Vcore energy supply.

The controllers are four-rail gadgets that help Core, Graphics, Auxiliary, and LPCORE voltage domains from a single chip, accepting enter voltages from 2.5 V to 24 V and regulating output from 0 V to 1.95 V. AOS says the low quiescent draw can prolong pocket book battery life by 30 to 60 minutes in comparison with competing options.

A Hybrid Management Structure

Enabling that is AOS’s proprietary Superior Transient Modulation (A2TM) know-how. A2TM makes use of a variable-frequency hysteretic peak-current mode management scheme with superior phase-current sensing, a hybrid method that AOS describes as combining digital flexibility with analog effectivity. The place a purely digital controller depends on firmware-driven loop compensation, A2TM’s analog management loop offers inherently quicker response to load transients whereas the digital layer handles configuration, telemetry, and communication with the platform over the SVID interface.

Block diagram of the AOZ71049QI. 

The result’s an ultra-fast transient response with tight present balancing throughout phases, each throughout transient occasions and below steady-state DC masses. That is significantly vital for contemporary cellular SoCs that have frequent, speedy voltage transitions between energy states. The controllers deal with these transitions whereas sustaining the low quiescent present that extends battery life throughout idle and light-load circumstances.

All three controllers talk over a single SVID interface, managing 5 separate domains and supporting programmable switching frequencies from 300 kHz to 1.8 MHz with 0.5% output-voltage accuracy through differential distant sensing. Multi-time programmable reminiscence with GUI-based configuration eliminates guide solder rework throughout tuning and reduces bill-of-materials complexity. Constructed-in acoustic noise suppression addresses audible coil whine below various masses, a persistent nuisance in skinny pocket book designs.

Good Energy Stage Completes the Resolution

AOS is pairing the brand new controllers with the AOZ52986QI Smart Power Stage, a compact 3 mm x 4 mm QFN bundle that integrates driver and MOSFET capabilities. The SPS helps a 2.7-V to 22-V provide vary with a 30-V high-side MOSFET, delivers 45 A of steady output present with peaks as much as 80 A, and may change at frequencies as much as 1.5 MHz.

A symmetrical pinout simplifies PCB structure and reduces parasitic inductance by 5% in comparison with previous-generation designs, which is essential for sustaining clear voltage transitions at excessive switching frequencies, significantly in tightly packed pocket book board layouts. The upper switching frequency additionally permits designers to make use of smaller exterior inductors and capacitors, decreasing the footprint of the ability supply community.

Typical utility of the AOZ52986QI. 

The SPS integrates present monitoring at 3.5% accuracy and temperature monitoring at 2% accuracy, offering the controller with the telemetry it wants for autonomous section shedding, overcurrent safety, and thermal administration. Built-in sensing eliminates the necessity for exterior current-sense resistors, additional simplifying the ability stage design.

Wayne Lee, Energy IC Product Advertising and marketing Director at AOS, stated the largest problem for SoC energy in cellular platforms is balancing efficiency with energy consumption. Lee stated the AOZ71049 sequence offers a novel management scheme that meets Intel’s most stringent necessities whereas delivering what he known as the bottom quiescent energy within the {industry}.

Three Controllers for Totally different Platform Tiers

The three controllers share the identical A2TM structure and IMVP9.3 compliance however goal completely different platform configurations. 

The AOZ71049QI and AOZ71149QI each help as much as 4+2+1+2 section preparations, with the AOZ71049QI utilizing a 6 mm x 6 mm QFN bundle optimized for AOS’s personal SPS gadgets, whereas the AOZ71149QI makes use of a bigger 7 mm x 7 mm bundle and helps each industry-standard DrMOS and SPS energy levels. The AOZ71146QI is a lower-phase-count variant, supporting as much as 2+1+2+1 configurations in a 6 mm x 6 mm bundle, with a fair decrease quiescent present of 5.4 mA, geared toward thinner, lower-power pocket book designs.

All three help discrete inductors and two-phase coupled inductors and embrace Quick V-Mode for speedy voltage transitions throughout energy state adjustments. The safety suite covers undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and over-temperature warning through SMBALERT, with the AOZ71049QI including way-over-current detection.

All photographs used courtesy of Alpha and Omega Semiconductor.