Nordic Semiconductor nPM2100 Power Management IC

Nordic Semiconductor has launched the nPM2100 Power Management IC (PMIC), designed to prolong the operating time per battery for primary (non-rechargeable) battery applications by managing energy resources using an ultra-efficient boost regulator and a range of energy-saving features. The PMIC has a range of applications, including wireless mice and keyboards, consumer asset tracking, remote controls and body-worn medical devices.

The PMIC’s boost regulator and energy-saving features — including primary-cell fuel gauging — address power management inefficiencies while also using all of the battery’s stored energy before the cell is thrown away.

The power management IC manages the power supply for low-power systems-on-chip (SoCs) or microcontroller units (MCUs) such as Nordic’s nRF52, nRF53 and nRF54 series of advanced wireless multiprotocol products. The PMIC is optimised for maximum efficiency and compact size and is configurable through an I2C-compatible Two Wire Interface (TWI). This interface enables access to configure a range of advanced functions, including ship mode and battery fuel gauging. The PMIC also features two GPIOs that can be repurposed to direct control lines to time-critical control functions as an alternative to serial communication.

The PMIC targets primary battery applications. Examples of supported batteries are one or two AA/AAA/LRxx batteries (in series), or one 3 V LiMnO2 cell. Single- or dual-cell silver oxide and zinc-air coin-cell batteries are also supported, plus any other primary battery that operates within the nPM2100’s input voltage range.

The nPM2100 features a boost regulator with an output range of 1.8–3.3 V, powered from an input range of 0.7–3.4 V. The regulator can deliver up to 150 mA maximum current. The regulator also powers a Load Switch/LDO supplying up to 50 mA across an output range of 0.8–3.0 V. The regulator also features a quiescent current (IQ) of 150 nA.