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Nano Cap Solves Electrical Capacitance Issues in Power Supply Circuits

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ROHM has announced the development of Nano Cap power supply technology that ensures stable control of power supply circuits in the automotive and industrial sectors, even with ultra-small nF (NanoFarad) electrical capacitances.

The growing awareness of sustainable energy consumption has led to a more widespread use of electrification in a large number of applications. The automotive sector in particular is experiencing a continuous increase in electric components, due to technological innovations spurred by advances in electric vehicles and autonomous driving systems.

Each of these electrical applications requires various types of voltage generators, all stabilised by capacitors. The result is an increasing demand for external components, with larger printed circuit boards and more expensive BOMs.

Following on from the development of ultra-fast Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control technology known as Nano Pulse Control and the ultra-low current technology known as Nano Energy, ROHM has added a third nanotechnology for power supplies, Nano Cap, which reduces the number of external capacitors required for linear regulators.

In a circuit, usually consisting of a linear regulator and a microcontroller, a 1 µF capacitor is usually required at the output of the linear regulator and a 100 nF capacitor at the input of the microcontroller.

However, by relying on ROHM's linear regulator using Nano Cap technology, developed through advanced analogue expertise combining circuit design, layout and processes, the need for a capacitor at the regulator output is eliminated and operational stability is ensured with only a 100 nF input capacitor. By reducing both the number of capacitors and the electrical capacitance required for automotive and other power supply circuits, ROHM can help minimise the circuit design load.

In addition, operational amplifiers using Nano Cap technology have already been launched in part, while linear regulators using Nano Cap technology are scheduled to be launched in 2020, as well as regulators equipped with LED drivers with integrated Nano Cap.

ROHM is committed to further enhancing the development of Nano Cap technology to completely eliminate the need for capacitors, while extending the use of this technology not only to linear regulators, but also to operational amplifiers, LED drivers, as well as other analogue integrated circuits, which make their contribution to society through the efficient use of resources to minimise the environmental burden. (Figures 1a and 1b)

Nano Cap Solves Electrical Capacitance Issues in Power Supply Circuits
Figure 1a

 

Nano Cap Solves Electrical Capacitance Issues in Power Supply Circuits
Figure 1b
About Nano Cap technology

Nano Cap power supply technology refers to an ultra-stable control technology achieved through advanced analogue expertise by bringing together circuit design, processes and layout, and relying on ROHM's vertically integrated manufacturing system.

The optimised control eliminates the problem of operational stability that plagues analogue circuit capacitors, contributing to a reduction in design time in a wide range of applications in the automotive, industrial equipment, consumer and other sectors.

Detailed information on Nano Cap technology

Nano Cap ensures stability at the output of linear regulators, improving the response of analogue circuits while minimising parasitic parameters induced by wiring and amplifiers: this makes it possible to reduce the electrical output capacitance to less than a tenth of the value of conventional solutions. (Figure 2)

Nano Cap Solves Electrical Capacitance Issues in Power Supply Circuits
Figure 2

As a result, circuits consisting of a linear regulator and a microcontroller, which usually require a 1 µF capacitor at the output of the linear regulator and 100 nF at the input of the microcontroller, as shown above, with ROHM's Nano Cap linear regulator technology achieve operational stability using only a 100 nF capacitor on the microcontroller side.

Considering an industry requirement of up to ±5.0% for output voltage fluctuation (focusing only on fluctuation in this case) versus load current fluctuation of 50 mA with an electrical capacitance of 100 nF, Nano Cap-equipped chips achieve an operational stability of ±3.6% whenevaluated, compared to conventional linear regulators, whose output voltage can vary within a range of ±15.6%.

Other nanotechnologies for power supplies

ROHM has consolidated nanotechnology for power supplies by integrating its analogue expertise, bringing together circuit design, processes and layout, and relying on vertically integrated manufacturing.

Other power supply nanotechnologies centred on power ICs developed by ROHM that help solve application problems in a wide range of products are presented below.

Nano Pulse Control

This is the name of ROHM's ultra-fast PWM control technology for power ICs that achieves an ON switching time (power IC control pulse width) in the order of nanoseconds (ns), realising the conversion from high to low voltages using a single IC, unlike conventional solutions that require 2 or more power ICs.
This contributes to greater system miniaturisation and simplification in 48V applications ranging from mild hybrid vehicles to base station sub-power supplies and industrial robots.

Nano Energy

This is ultra-low current technology , characterised by current consumption without load in the order of nA, achieved by minimising the trade-off that occurs when reducing current consumption with ultra-light loads.

This makes it possible to realise the IoT market's demand for 10 years of power from a single button cell battery, capable of long-term operation in compact battery-powered applications, including portable, wearable and IoT devices.

For information click here

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