ON Semiconductor Introduces Dual-Output DC-DC Converter for Powering Active Matrix OLED Displays in Portable Multimedia Devices

ON Semiconductor has introduced the NCP5810 – a 2 watt (W) dual output dc-dc converter that offers both positive and negative output. The device’s output voltage accuracy, high switching frequency, and small package size makes it particularly suitable for powering a display driver in Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (Active Matrix OLED or AMOLED) panel, an emerging display technology for portable applications.

Active Matrix OLED – the latest display technology, where only a handful of display manufacturers will be ready to go mass production later this year or next year – delivers better color contrast and video playback quality than today’s LCD displays but creates added power management challenges for design engineers. For example, because AMOLED displays are sensitive to changes in power supply voltages, ON Semiconductor designed the NCP5810 to provide accurate feedback voltage with 1 percent tolerance and a fast line transient response with overshoot of 4 millivolt (mV), given a 500 mV input voltage variation.

Featuring high overall efficiency up to 85 percent at 1.75 megahertz (MHz) oscillator frequency, the NCP5810 dual output dc-dc converter delivers best-in-class performance. In order to complement the slim form factor of AMOLED display, the converter switches at the high 1.75 MHz frequency, allowing the use of small inductors and ceramic capacitors. Its ultra-thin package with 0.55 mm thickness allows the NCP5810 to fit into the thinnest portable design form factor. In addition, it preserves battery power in shut-down mode with true cut-off function that limits the leakage display current to typically 1 microamp (µA). Additionally, the NCP5810 features cycle-by-cycle peak current limit and thermal shut down protection.

Packaging and Pricing

Available in the ultra-thin 3.0 mm x 3.0 mm x 0.55 mm LLGA-12 package, the NCP5810 is budgetary priced at $1.20 USD per unit in 3,000 unit quantities.

In addition to the NCP5810 with fixed converter output voltage, ON Semiconductor is sampling the adjustable version NCP5810A, offered in the same package.