From
passives to power devices, component manufacturers continue to develop smaller
devices as mobile device designers look to shrink the size and thickness of
their products, and/or pack higher functionality into their devices. But it's
not only consumer electronics OEMs looking for miniature components, designers
of communications, military, industrial and medical products also need to
address the portability, weight and size of their designs. Component
manufacturers are up to the task and are helping their customers meet their
goals by continuing to develop new materials, new manufacturing processes, and
new packaging. In many cases, component makers also are able to improve the
performance of the components as they continue to shrink their size. Here's my
selection of 10 recent new product introductions that truly fall into the
category of tiny components. Applications range
from mobile phones and hearing aids to military systems and networking
equipment.
In
the category of first to market, TI claims the first single-chip battery gauge
with integrated protection designed to protect single-cell Li-Ion batteries in
space-constrained designs. Housed in a 1.9- x 2.7- x 0.6-mm, 15-bump, chip scale
package, these devices can be used in consumer devices as well as portable
industrial and medical devices.
Another
first-to-market device comes from Murata. Driven by industry demand for
ultra-small components, Murata offers the smallest chip ferrite bead, packaged
in a 008004 size (0.25 x 0.125 mm). The chip offers 75 percent lower volume than
the 01005 size that is currently used in some smartphones, particularly in
high-frequency modules, said Murata. Typical apps for these EMI suppression
filters include mobile phones and mobile phone modules, where they are used to
eliminate noise generated by electronic devices.
When
it comes to miniaturization, Raltron is on a roll, packaging its frequency
control devices in ever smaller packages. One example is the company's clock
oscillator, which is housed in a 2.0- x 1.6- x 0.65-mm package size. It's about
40 percent less surface area than the most popular clock oscillators. This makes
the Model CO2016 suitable for a
host of applications, ranging from personal digital devices and wireless
applications to portable medical devices and embedded computing devices. It's
also available in three supply voltages: 1.8V, 2.5V and 3.3V.
Raltron
also claims the industry's smallest microprocessor crystal with the introduction
of its Model R1612, housed in a 1.6 x 1.2 x 0.4-mm ceramic package. The R1612 surface-mount crystal
is said to use approximately 50 percent less surface area than most typical
crystals on the market. Target applications include embedded computing devices,
cameras, wearable devices, storage, personal digital devices, wireless
applications, microprocessor and DSP clocks, portable medical devices, alarms,
utility metering, and other high-density applications.
Another
small frequency control device was developed by MtronPTI. It now houses its high
stability, ultra-miniature TCXOs in
package sizes as small as 2.5 x 2.0 mm, which is an area reduction of 7X
compared to standard 5- x 7-mm packages. The RoHS-compliant TCXO VCTCXO products
are used in avionic flight control, point-to-point radio, broadband access base
stations, and professional wireless sound systems.
Molex's
balanced armature audio
receivers, measuring 80-mm3, delivers up to a 20 percent space
savings versus similar competitive products, and up to 75 percent savings
compared to dynamic receivers. In addition to the small size, the balanced
armature technology is said to offer significantly more sound output per unit
size compared to dynamic types, targeting hearing aid and other small audio
applications. Plus, they are customizable, allowing OEMs to adjust the impedance
or other specifications to meet specific requirements.
We
have two selections for OEM designers in the rugged environment space.
Delivering size and weight reduction, Omnetics' Nano miniature connectors
provide up to 2 Gbits/s speed in extremely rugged environments. They are
well-suited for military applications including rugged and miniaturized
surveillance and communications equipment such as helicopter systems, unmanned
aerial vehicles, and future soldiers.
The
other product is Coilcraft's LPR6235 series of coupled
inductors, available in a 6- x 6-mm package with a 3.5-mm height. These devices
can be used as either step-up or flyback transformers in DC-DC convertors or as
autotransformers. They are well-suited for energy harvesting apps. In addition,
the combination of high Isat and low direct current resistance (DCR) is said to
provide high efficiency and excellent current handling for rugged, low-cost
designs.
Another
tiny product comes from TI. Not only does TI's ultra-small FemtoFET MOSFETs tout the
lowest on-resistance of below 100 milliohms, saving power and extending battery
life of mobile devices, it also comes housed in a small 0.6- x 1.0- x 0.35-mm
package.
Last
but not least, targeting applications with very tight board space and height
requirements is C&K's PCM series of
ultra-miniature, low-profile slide switches, which can be used in a variety of
applications including computer & computer peripheral products, networking
equipment, telecommunication products and test & measurement
equipment.
