STPMIC1: All‑in‑One Power‑Management for STM32MP1 Processor Systems

STMicroelectronics has launched the STPMIC1, a power‑management IC that consolidates four high‑efficiency buck converters, a boost converter, and six low‑dropout regulators into a single 44‑lead WFQFN package. Designed as a companion to the STM32MP1 heterogeneous multicore microprocessor family, the PMIC delivers the precise voltage regulation required for Cortex‑A7/A7, Cortex‑M4, optional GPU, and a host of digital and analog peripherals.

The four buck stages feature rapid transient response and tight output‑voltage control, while a pulse‑frequency modulation mode improves energy efficiency under light loads. The boost converter, which can operate in bypass mode, supports up to two USB ports and provides smooth regulation whether the system is powered from a battery or a 5‑V AC/DC adapter.

Among the six LDOs, one supplies the DDR3 termination voltage and can switch to bypass for low‑power DDR operation; another automatically detects the source to power a USB PHY. The remaining four LDOs are general‑purpose outputs that can be tailored to a wide range of board‑level requirements.

STPMIC1’s built‑in power‑rail monitoring and protection functions eliminate the need for discrete components, reducing board space and BOM cost. It also manages power‑up and power‑down sequencing, satisfying the STM32MP1’s stringent accuracy and settling‑time specifications.

In practice, Octavo System leveraged the STM32MP1 and STPMIC1 to build the OSD32MP1x family of system‑in‑package solutions. The result is a 64 % reduction in footprint compared to a discrete‑component design, while fully addressing power sequencing and reliability.

Additional features include a DDR reference voltage, a 500‑mA USB OTG power switch, a general‑purpose power switch, an I²C interface, and auxiliary pins that allow the MCU to control the PMIC programmatically.

The STPMIC1 is available today in a 5 × 6 × 0.8 mm WFQFN 44‑lead package, priced at $1.70 for orders of 1,000 units. An evaluation board, STEVAL‑PMIC1K1, is also on the market.