TOKYO: Toshiba Corporation announces the development of an on-chip Single-Inductor Multiple-Output (SIMO) DC-DC converter to be used in low-power ICs for IoT devices, including Bluetooth low energy.

The new technology, based on coin-type lithium-ion batteries for power is 65 to 86 percent more efficient in the load range of 1 μW to 50 mW. The switching frequency of switches that distribute current to output channels is reduced accordingto the newly proposed operation mode making it 80 percent more efficient when the load power is above 5 μW and about 65 percent when the load power is 1 μW.

SIMO DC-DC converters support a wide load range with high conversion efficiency. It is more than 100 times wider than that of a conventional SIMO DC-DC converter and extends the battery life of IoT devices.

SIMO DC-DC converter needs only one external inductor reducing device cost unlike conventional DC-DC converters. The new control circuit consists of only logic gates, reducing its power consumption. The new SIMO DC-DC converter uses digital feedback control to minimize waiting time, improving the efficiency in terms of mW load range.