Ultra-Low supply current PWM/PFM control inductor with built-in step-up DC-DC converter

Torex Semiconductor Ltd. has created the XCL108 series, a new series of inductor built-in step-up DC-DC converters featuring ultra-low power and ultra-compact, excellent for a wide range of battery-powered electronic devices.

The series is characterised by its extremely low quiescent current of just 400nA and its space-saving, inductor built-in structure. These features make the series ideal for recent compact electronic devices that demand extended battery life.

With a quiescent current of 400nA, the product greatly improves efficiency compared to conventional DC-DC converters at light loads, particularly at output currents of a few µA. By adopting a PWM/PFM control method, high efficiency is consistently achieved across any current range, from the device's sleep state (MCU) to active states such as communication and sensing. This eliminates the need for complex on/off control, even when the boost operation is continuously running, significantly reducing power consumption in devices with high system standby rates (such as IoT devices and portable devices), thereby extending battery life and reducing battery capacity or size.

The series inductor's built-in structure can minimise the wiring pattern on the PCB, greatly reducing noise radiation from the current loop. The elimination of the requirement to select coils also significantly reduces the time and effort needed for development, including component selection, procurement, evaluation, and registration.

The series adopts the CL-2025-02 package (2.5mm x 2mm x h1.04mm), which is compact, low-noise, and pin-compatible with other products. Even with the addition of external ceramic capacitors, the total mounting area remains within just 7.7mm × 3.1mm, achieving ultra-space efficiency.

The operating ambient temperature range is -40C to +105C, making the XCL108 series ideal for equipment that values small size, space-saving, and high efficiency under light loads (such as industrial equipment, IoT, mobile, and wearable devices) and is also appropriate for all equipment that values battery life.