ROHM Semiconductor has made available a programmable system power management IC (PMIC) optimized for the i.MX 8M family of applications processors of NXP Semiconductors to complement the need for processing audio, video, and graphics in a wide range of applications. ROHM's BD71837MWV PMIC integrates all power rails required by i.MX 8M processors and system peripherals.

BD71837MWV integrates all power rails required by i.MX 8M processors and system peripherals. In addition to a high-efficiency buck converter that provides a maximum conversion efficiency of 95 percent, most protection functions required by the system are included, making it possible to significantly reduce the development time, decrease size, and simplify system design.

"ROHM continues to be a valued i.MX eco system partner. BD71837MWV is a welcome choice for i.MX 8M customers who seek single-chip power solution," said Leonardo Azevedo, NXP's i.MX Senior Director of Marketing at NXP Semiconductor.

BD71837MWV

In recent years the emergence of IoT has allowed electronic devices, such as smart speakers, to interact with users through voice commands for streaming audio and video contents. NXP's i.MX 8M family integrates up to four Arm Cortex-A53 and Cortex-4 cores and offers flexible memory options along with a high-speed connectable user interface. Additional features include full 4K Ultra HD and high dynamic range (HDR) video functionality, high-fidelity audio playback, up to 20 audio channels, and support for DSD512 audio. This highly integrated design combines audio, video, and machine learning in a single platform to provide seamless connectivity and an intuitive experience.

The BD71837MWV leverages ROHM's industry-leading analog power technology to achieve the ideal power supply system for driving i.MX 8M processors. Convenience, ease of use, and a rich user experience continue to drive the demand for more powerful System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. However, high-performance applications processing graphics, video and audio often place conflicting demands on power supply and thermal design, calling for higher power in a smaller footprint along with high peak efficiency yet low standby power consumption (the latter driven by regulations as well as use cases such as always-on devices with voice interface).

The BD71837MWV was designed to address these demands while also achieving the lowest system bill of materials for power management. In addition, the compact form factor reduces the number of external components, decreasing printed circuit board (PCB) area by 45 percent when adopting a type-3, one-sided PCB. Thanks to software programmability and one-time programmability (OTP), ROHM's PMIC can be easily adapted for a wide variety of system designs.