Texas Instruments has unveiled the industry's first DC/DC buck-boost converter that combines programmable input current limiting and integrated dynamic voltage scaling to increase battery life by at least 50%. The TPS63900, as TI's solution is called, maintains the industry's lowest quiescent current (IQ), 75 nA, with 92% efficiency at 10 Ī¼A, and delivers up to three times the output current of competing devices, thereby helping engineers extend the life of battery-powered industrial and personal electronics applications . Indeed, engineers commonly find themselves having to design for low IQ (quiescent current) values while delivering enough output current to send signals between connected smart grid applications and a network via commonly used radio frequency standards, such as in the fields of narrowband Internet of Things (IoT), BluetoothĀ® Low Energy and long-range M-Bus and wireless. With the TPS63900, energy can be saved in wirelessly connected applications that run on batteries.
Converter features
The TPS63900 incorporates dynamic voltage scaling to provide power while maintaining the system at the minimum voltage required for efficient operation, maximising battery life and reducing maintenance requirements for industrial applications. This feature enables optimised power architectures for ultra-low power sensors and wireless connectivity ICs, supporting applications that can run for at least 10 years on the main battery. For example, the buck-boost converter can be combined with TI's MSP430FR2155 in safety sensors or wireless IoT sensors to monitor water pump vibrations for predictive maintenance purposes and thus help reduce costs.
With its low IQ and incorporating a programmable input current limit, the TPS63900 is a buck-boost converter that can efficiently charge supercapacitors to buffer peak loads, protect battery capacity and increase system life and performance. Fully-charged supercapacitors act as a buffer for the energy needed to operate components that require high peak currents, such as smart motorised locks.
The TPS63900 increases the stability of connected applications by reducing output voltage ripple caused by load transients by up to 50%. The extremely fast transient response of the new buck-boost converter maintains a low IQ and keeps the internal regulation loop active. This feature is particularly beneficial in applications such as smart water and gas meters, which are constantly switched on but need to consume high power in a short period of time while sharing data.