Date: 15/09/2010

Power management chip-set from Maxim for Intel Atom based "Oak Trail"

Maxim has unveiled a two-chip power management solution for the Intel Atom processor-based "Oak Trail" platform. This chipset integrates the circuitry required for managing power delivery and battery charging. The new solution meets the power and form factor requirements in tablets and netbooks.

"The upcoming 'Oak Trail' platform from Intel will enable longer battery life and sleeker form factors in tablets," explained Chae Lee, Vice President of Handheld Power at Maxim. "We worked closely with Intel's team to develop a fully integrated analog and mixed-signal solution that helps meet the aggressive power-reduction targets set for this platform. We're proud of what we have accomplished together. Maxim's solution leverages IP from our existing solution for the 'Moorestown' platform. It integrates high-performance building blocks into a charging front-end and power-management IC to provide a differentiated solution for tablet and embedded products."

"Tablets represent an exciting growth segment that gives consumers an additional way to experience rich multimedia content," commented Anil Nanduri, director of mobile marketing at Intel Corporation. "Intel's innovation in low-power technologies, combined with Maxim's experience and capabilities in mixed-signal design, will enable device makers to bring to market exciting new smartphones and tablets with smaller form factors, longer battery life, and advanced multimedia capabilities."

Maxim's two-chip solution for Intel "Oak Trail" platform includes the MAX8958* power-management IC (PMIC) and the MAX17085B battery-charger and system-power IC.
The MAX8958 provides two Quick-PWM VID controller supplies, three high-efficiency step-down converters, thirteen LDOs, an RTC with alarms, processor platform sideband signals, a clock output for communications modules, a backup battery charger, and an SPI interface for programming. This PMIC is optimized for size in a 5.4mm x 5.7mm x 0.4mm (pitch) wafer-level package (WLP).
The MAX17085B integrates a multichemistry battery charger, dual fixed-output Quick-PWM step-down controllers, and dual keep-alive linear regulators in a package.