2-2023

Multifunction Power Management IC
tage converters when powered
directly by the nPM1300. When
operating as LDOs, these power
rail outputs are configurable between
1 and 3.3 V with a maximum
output current of 50 mA.
The unregulated input voltage is
also available as an output from
the nPM1300.
Nordic Semiconductor
announced its plan to release
a third Power Management
IC (PMIC) in mid-2023 to
expand its PMIC portfolio.
The nPM1300 expands the
company’s PMIC offering by
adding support for both charging
of larger batteries and
four regulated power rails. The
nPM1300 will be optimized for
efficiency and compact size (3.1
x 2.4 mm WL-CSP or 5 x 5 mm
Nordic Semiconductor
www.nordicsemi.com
QFN) and is digitally configurable
through an I 2 C-compatible
Two Wire Interface (TWI). The
digital interface provides access
to several system management
functions that are usually implemented
as discrete functions in
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)
embedded designs – such as
hard reset, battery fuel gauge,
system-level watchdog, power
loss warning, and recovery from
failed boot.
“Nordic entered the PMIC
market because existing power
management solutions were not
optimized for compact, ultra-low
power IoT applications. Available
PMICs leave it up to the designer
to implement vital functionality
using discrete components
– functions that naturally
belong inside a PMIC and can
be implemented at almost no
cost”, says Geir Kjosavik, Product
Director – PMIC, Nordic
Semiconductor. “So, we did just
that. Nordic’s customers will be
delighted to have access to onchip
functions that enhance product
safety and provide additional
ways of conserving battery
energy.”
The nPM1300 is designed to
provide highly efficient power
regulation for Nordic’s nRF52
and nRF53 Series advanced
wireless multiprotocol Systemson-Chip
(SoCs). The PMIC’s
four regulated power rails and
battery charger make it ideal for
compact and advanced IoT products
based on, for example, an
nRF5340 SoC host and multiple
peripheral functions such as sensors.
Examples include advanced
wearables and portable medical
applications.
The nPM1300 PMIC operates
from an external power supply of
4 to 5.5 V and can operate from
a battery voltage down to 2.4 V.
Two power rails are regulated by
separate DC/DC buck converters
that are configurable between
1 and 3.3 V and up to 200
mA maximum current. The other
two power rails operate as load
switches – switching currents
of up to 100 mA from external
sources – but can also perform
as Low Drop Out (LDO) vol-
The nPM1300 charges singlecell
Li-ion, Li-Pol, and LiFePO4
batteries with a linear charging
module that supports up to 800
mA charge current. The termination
voltage is programmable
from 3.5 to 4.45 V. The battery
charger features automatic thermal
regulation with programmable
maximum chip temperature
during charging to enable simple
thermal management that
can be adapted to any system
requirement.
The nPM1300 brings other new
advanced features to Nordic’s
PMIC range including: USB
port detection with automatic
current limits of 100 mA or 500
mA through standard USB or
up to 1500 mA through USB-C
PD (Power Delivery); dynamic
power path management which
automatically switches to battery
power if a mains power connection
is removed; voltage, current
and temperature monitoring for
accurate fuel gauging; and ultralow
current hibernate mode with
a programmable wake-up timer
in addition to the other system
management features already
mentioned. The PMIC also features
three LED drivers and five
GPIOs that can be re-purposed
to direct control lines to timecritical
control functions as an
alternative to serial commands.
The nPM1300 is available for
limited sampling now, and
will be available to order from
Nordic’s distributors mid-
2023. ◄
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