Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442844
10 Powering Up Your Design ü Smaller FF design ü PCB cost savings ü Assembly cost savings ü Ease on supply chain results in an overall solution with about one-third the footprint of discrete-solution alternatives and with a far- shorter BOM (Figure 5). Evaluation kits, GUIs pull it all together Fitting a configurable device into a design brings up two related issues. Unlike a fixed-function device, where the datasheet alone defines the operating parameters and envelope, the designer must determine the optimal settings and then implement these values for the configurable device in this situation. To simplify this process, Qorvo offers evaluation kits and programming dongle for its ActiveCiPS™ PMIC family. These include all the hardware, software, and hooks needed to set, adjust, and assess PMIC performance in a given application. Figure 3: The Qorvo ACT88329 PMIC supports configuration of key regulator functions, sequencing, switching frequency, and other operating modes to optimize system-level performance. (Source: Qorvo). Figure 4: Designers can assess performance with various parameter configurations and then easily reconfigure them for optimized performance using a Qorvo-supplied GUI and a PC linked to an ACTIVECiPS™ PMIC. (Source: Qorvo). For example, the ACT88329 PMIC features four DC/DC step-down converters (one with bypass function) using integrated power FETs, and two LDOs; each regulator can be configured for a wide range of output voltages (Figure 3). In addition, other functions such as startup time, system-level sequencing, switching frequency, sleep modes, and operating modes can be configured and even reconfigured through the I 2 C interface without the need for circuit-board changes. The ease of configurability is among the critical factors allowing users of ActiveCiPS™ PMICs to quickly establish and even change the settings for their design via a USB-to-I 2 C dongle and GUI to optimize performance for their specific design (Figure 4). The combination of the high integration and I 2 C configurability for this tiny 36-pin WLCSP package (2.7mm x 3 mm) device