ROHM’s New 13.56MHz Wireless Power Supply Chipset

Providing wireless charging and communication functions with a single chipset

Willich-Münchheide, Germany, December 09, 2021 – ROHM Group company LAPIS Technology developed a chipset capable of providing up to 1W of wireless power for compact and streamlined wearable devices, and for industrial smart, miniaturized and sealed solutions. The ML7661 (transmitter) and ML7660 (receiver) eliminate the need for an external MCU by incorporating a control circuit required for transmission/reception, resulting in the industry’s smallest system size in the 1W class. This makes it ideal for wearables with a large battery capacity designed to be worn for long time frames. Typical products are wristband blood pressure monitors, fitness trackers, smart watches, and hearing aids, for example. Moreover, the adoption of the high 13.56MHz frequency band enables the support for Near Field Communication (NFC). (Fig. 1) Providing wireless power and communication in a single chipset contributes to improved design flexibility in devices with rotating mechanisms that would normally be restricted by wired designs – such as industrial equipment, PC cooling fans, and e-bike torque sensors. In recent years, there has been a growing need to improve the safety of compact electronics (especially small medical devices) against electric shock. Wireless power supply eliminates the need for a power cord, significantly improving safety during charging or sweating by increasing the waterproof, dustproof, and (electric) shockproof performance of sealed housings. However, although the Qi standard is widely used and can supply up to 15W, the system size which includes the chipset and antenna is also typically large, making it difficult to incorporate into wearable devices. In response, ROHM Group company LAPIS Technology previously developed the ML763x chipset that utilizes the 13.56MHz frequency band to deliver 200mW of power and enable communication wirelessly. But while it was well-received by the market, there were calls for increased power to support wearables with large battery capacities such as wristband blood pressure monitors, smart watches, and hearing aids. ROHM’s latest chipset meets this need by providing a power capacity up to 1W in a compact form factor, expanding the application range. (Fig. 2 + 3) Development Support An evaluation kit is available that makes it easy to immediately begin evaluation of this new 13.56MHz wireless power supply chipset. ROHM supports the configuration of charging systems that meet various customer requirements. For example, tools for individual user settings from a PC along with documents related to antenna design and adjustment are available. Click on the URL below for more information: https://www.lapis-tech.com/en/semicon/wpt/landing/ml7660_61.html Product Specifications (Fig. 4) Applications Medical wearable devices up to Class 2: Hearing aids, wristband blood pressure monitors Wearables: Smart glasses/watches Rotating equipment: Cooling fans, e-bike torque sensors Availability: September 2021 (samples), April 2022 (mass production)

About ROHM Semiconductor ROHM Semiconductor is a global company of 3.295 billion US dollars per March 31st, 2021 with 22,370 employees. The company develops and manufactures a very large product range from SiC Diodes and MOSFETs, Analog ICs such as Gate Drivers and Power Management ICs to Power Transistors and Diodes to Passive Components. The production of our high performing products is taking place in state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and China. LAPIS Technology (former OKI Semiconductor), SiCrystal GmbH and Kionix are companies of the ROHM Semiconductor Group. ROHM Semiconductor Europe has its Head Office near Dusseldorf serving the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa). For further information, please contact www.rohm.com