Power management and motor control ICs

Advanced Silicon collaborates with major printer manufacturers on the definition and design of high-voltage combo circuits that enable footprint and cost reductions in next generation printing devices. The goal is to minimize the number of ICs - and related external components - that make up a printer's "power stage", i.e. the power supplies, motor drivers and the printer head driver, by packing several power functions in one chip.

The ASMTC63xx is the first in Advanced Silicon's family of power combo ICs especially designed for inkjet printers and MFPs. Operating from a single power supply (20V~35V) this all-in-one chip is able to generate a range of analog, core and logic supplies for the printer board, and to drive several DC and stepper motors, such as the paper, carriage and scanner motors. Thanks to its many configurable parameters the chip is particularly versatile and can be fitted in a wide range of applications.

The next generation of power combo ICs will, in addition to the above, include a microprocessor core which will permit to implement advanced motion control functions for the various motors driven by the chip. The interfacing between the printer controller and the combo chip will be simplified, as well as the overall development of the printer board.