What’s new with dc/dc converters?

Think iPads and their ilk for new conversion power growth. According to Darnell’s twelfth-edition analysis of “Worldwide dc/dc portable power converter IC forecasts applications, amperages, products, and competitive environment,” communications applications such as mobile phone handsets that have been the primary growth engine for this market for nearly a decade are no longer the dominant source of growth. Emerging applications in the portable computing segment such as tablets and ultra books have become the new growth engine for this large and important market.

While they are no longer the fastest-growing segment, communications applications are still projected to maintain the largest converter IC market over the forecast period. Driving the forecast for the communications segment are switching regulators and power management ICs (PMICs) used in the mobile phone market. This is a large and important market for makers of power management ICs. It’s driven by traditional applications including communications, computers and consumer applications. The total worldwide portable power dc/dc converter IC market is projected to grow from about 31 billion units in 2013 to over 50 billion units in 2018 — a CAGR of 10.3%. The addition of new architectures, smaller form factors, more efficient designs and improved power management are expected to create new opportunities.

Driven by the tablet computer market, the computer segment is projected to be the second largest and fastest growing market for converter ICs. It is expected to be driven by the large switching regulator and controller IC markets.

Most of the dc/dc converter/regulator ICs used in portable devices are concentrated in the lower amperage ranges, with more than 98.0% of them falling below the >5-A range over the forecast period. ICs include charge pumps, LDOs, and switching regulators. The 0.25 to 0.5-A range is projected to be the largest converter/regulator IC market.

The worldwide dc/dc controller IC market for portable power applications is also projected to present a significant opportunity. Due to the higher amperage and higher wattage operating requirements and fueled by notebooks and tablets, the computer segment is expected to dominate the controller IC market, making up over 98.0% of the controller IC unit market share over the forecast period. Growing demand for power required of today’s feature rich portable consumer electronics devices is expected to fuel demand for power management ICs. Driven primarily by the mobile phone market, the communications segment will present one of the better opportunities for PMICs.

The price for the report is $3,200. Get more information at 951-279-6684, or e-mail Traci Shepard at or Michael Knepher at .