Philips today announced the launch of its latest Power Management Unit (PMU), the PCF50626, designed to meet the relatively high power requirements of multimedia applications for mobile devices.

The PCF50626 has been designed to support and add functionality to Intel's newest processor family (codenamed Monahans) based on third generation Intel XScale and is the second PMU that Philips brings to market that supports the Intel XScale family of mobile application processors.

The new single-chip power-management unit, the PCF50626 developed by Philips, has a real-time software controlled mechanism that can reduce power consumption by up to 70% in feature-rich handsets, VoIP phones, mobile gaming and music devices and wireless PDAs, but also Philips' Nexperia cellular system solution 7210 for 3G. This mechanism allows the PCF50626 to continuously adjust voltages throughout a handheld device, minimizing power consumption and extending battery life.

The PCF50626 includes a fully integrated high current charger and a multitude of power supplies. An ambient light circuitry and a touch screen interface are also integrated. It is also fully software-controllable through its integrated digital interface. The high level of integration means that the chip uses 25% less space and saves about $2 on total BOM comparing to equivalent semiconductors, needing more external discrete components.

The PCF50626 samples are already available and this PMU will be in mass production in Q3 2006.