DC/DC buck-boost converter extends battery life by 50%

Texas Instruments (TI) has claimed the industry’s first DC/DC buck-boost converter to combine programmable input current limit and integrated dynamic voltage scaling to extend battery life by at least 50%. The new TPS63900 also claims the industry’s lowest quiescent current (I_Q), 75 nA, with 92% efficiency at 10 µA, while achieving up to three times more output current than competing devices. This can extend the life span of battery-powered personal electronics and industrial applications, such as industrial IoT, smart meters, and asset tracking.

Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) delivers power while keeping the system at the minimum voltage required to operate efficiently, which maximizes battery life and reduces required maintenance for industrial applications, TI said.

DVS also enables designers to optimize power architectures for ultra-low-power sensors and wireless connectivity ICs, supporting applications that can operate for at least 10 years using the primary battery. TI cites an example where the TPS63900 can be paired with the company’s MSP430FR2155 in security sensors or wireless IoT sensors to monitor the vibration of water pumps for predictive maintenance to extend battery life and reduce costs.

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The TPS63900 increases the stability of connected applications by reducing up to 50% of the output-voltage ripple caused by load transients, TI said, with the ultra-fast transient response maintaining low I_Q while keeping the internal regulation loop active. This capability delivers benefits to applications like smart water and gas meters that are always on but need to consume high power in a short amount of time when sharing data, added the company.

Input current limiting is another way the DC/DC buck-boost converter extends battery life and reduce costs. Claiming the industry’s lowest I_Q buck-boost converter to integrate a programmable input current limit, the TPS63900 efficiently charges supercapacitors to buffer peak loads, extend battery life, and extend system lifetime and performance.

The TPS63900 (2.5 x 2.5 mm, WSON package) is available through TI and authorized distributors. The device is priced at $0.80 in quantities of 1,000. Full and custom quantity reels are available on TI.com and through other channels. The TPS63900EVM evaluation module is available on TI.com for $49.