Designers can extend battery life and reduce the size of consumer, industrial, healthcare and IoT systems with three analogue ICs introduced by California-based Maxim Integrated.

The Max 17227A 2A nano-power boost converter, Max 17291 high-voltage 1A boost converter and Max 38911 500mA LDO all provide low quiescent current to improve efficiency and increase battery life.

Modern systems must provide higher currents from small batteries to support applications such as drug delivery, sensing, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Device limitations force developers into trade-offs that either constrain functionality, shorten battery life or increase size. These ICs help ease these trade-offs.

For battery-operated consumer accessories, IoT and medical wearable systems that need to boost power, the Max 17227A delivers high output power and low quiescent current. It handles up to 2A switch current and it consumes a quiescent current of 350nA. Features include short-circuit protection, true shutdown and an input voltage range from 400mV to 5.5V. It can extend battery system life up to ten per cent.

Delivering a high-voltage boost up to 20V, the Max 17291 has a quiescent current that is claimed to be 80 per cent lower and a size that is 60 per cent smaller than the closest competitive offerings. Delivering up to ten-times voltage conversion, this boost converter fits battery-operated systems with higher output voltage loads such as industrial energy hold-up, displays or sensors.

Up to 50 per cent smaller than competitive products, the Max 38911 500mV LDO for battery-operated IoT systems draws 19µA during idle mode to extend battery life up to ten per cent. Power supply rejection ratio is said to be 16dB better than the closest competitor, thus helping prevent noisy power supplies from interfering with critical functions such as precise measurements and communications.

“The three new efficient power ICs from Maxim’s essential analogue portfolio offer designers a path to simultaneously improve efficiency and reduce size,” said Vickram Vathulya, vice president at Maxim Integrated. “For industrial, consumer and healthcare operations, Maxim sets the bar for extending battery life by offering the lowest quiescent power in each category.”