Renesas Electronics Announces Low-Loss P-Channel MOSFET for Improved Power Efficiency in Power supplies

Demand has increased in recent years for applications with lower power consumption by the overall system, longer running time when using battery power, and smaller and thinner form factors. Power MOSFETs are used in charge control switches for Li-ion secondary batteries and power management switches for power supply switching with AC adapters. They must handle the large current flows needed to operate the system overall, and this has brought demand for reduced operating resistance (on-resistance) in order to lower system power consumption. At the same time, there is strong demand for smaller and thinner Li-ion battery packs become slimmer and more compact. This means that power MOSFET products with smaller packages than the conventional SOP-8 are needed.

In response to this demand, Renesas has developed a new fabrication process employing ultrafine process technology, among other innovations, that reduces the on-resistance by half for the same effective area compared with the earlier process used to fabricate MOSFETs for similar applications. The five new products, including the μPA2812T1L, deliver low on-resistance in very compact packages.

Key features of the new P-channel power MOSFETs:
(1) On-resistance among the lowest in the industry, contributing to better system power efficiency and extended battery operation times

The new MOSFETs achieve low on-resistance approximately half that of previous Renesas products. The μPA2812T1L has a compact 3.3 mm square package and achieves an on-resistance of 4.2 mΩ (typ.), among the lowest in the industry. This makes it possible to keep power consumption low, resulting in improved power efficiency for the system overall and longer operating times when powered by a Li-ion secondary battery.

The lower on-resistance also means that, for example, a circuit employing the earlier Renesas μPA2810T1L connected in parallel can be replaced with one employing the new μPA2812T1L, contributing to a reduction in the mounting area of the system.

(2) Mounting area approximately two-thirds that of earlier products with equivalent performance, enabling more compact systems
Earlier Renesas products delivered low on-resistance equivalent to the new μPA2812T1L but in a SOP-8 package about three times as large. Switching to the μPA2812T1L makes it possible to reduce the mounting area by around two thirds. This contributes to more compact power supply systems.

(3) Extensive lineup covering a wide range of operating current levels
The five new products, of which the μPA2812T1L is one, have on-resistance ratings ranging from 4.2 mΩ to 12 mΩ (typ.). Customers can choose the product version that best meets their requirements in terms of operating current, environmental conditions, etc.

The compact 3.3 mm square package (HVSON(3333)) provides excellent heat dispersion. It is designed to allow heat from inside the package to be dispersed to the mounting board via the exposed lead frame. Since the amount of heat around the device is less than with packages such as the SOP-8 with less efficient heat dispersion, it is possible to design Li-ion battery packs, etc., that are thinner and more compact.

Renesas plans to further extend its lineup of power MOSFET devices with additional improved features and more compact packages. Kits combining power MOSFET devices and Li-ion battery charge control ICs, etc., will provide system designers with a broad array of flexible system solutions.

Availability
Samples of Renesas Electronics' new MOSFETs are available End of Q1/2012. Mass production is scheduled to begin in Q2/2012. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)