ROHM Develops Ultra-Compact Buck-Boost Power Supply Evaluation Board for Space-Constrained Applications
ROHM Co., Ltd. has developed a new reference board, the “BD83070GWL-EVK-002,” designed to fully evaluate the features of its power IC, the BD83070GWL. The BD83070GWL is a buck-boost DC-DC converter IC developed to be a definitive low-power eco-device for electronic equipment powered by small batteries. It achieves a high efficiency of up to 97% and an ultra-low quiescent current of 2.8µA.
The newly developed reference board, BD83070GWL-EVK-002, is engineered to achieve the minimum mounting area for buck-boost power supplies required in small battery-powered devices. It comprises the BD83070GWL IC, a coil, capacitors, and a total of five components, resulting in an ultra-compact mounting area of 12.87mm² (3.3×3.9mm). This design provides a significant advantage in mounting area compared to configurations using general buck-boost power supply ICs, including those with integrated coils.
Furthermore, design information such as circuit patterns and BOM (Bill of Materials) is publicly available as a reference design, facilitating easy integration into mass production designs in addition to evaluation purposes. The new reference board began shipping in June 2026, with a sample price of 13,000 yen per unit (excluding tax). It is also available for online purchase through various platforms.
Online purchase options include:
ROHM aims to contribute to further miniaturization and power saving in battery-powered applications by providing high-performance power ICs and reference boards. More information can be found on the ROHM News page.
Background of Development
In recent years, battery-powered electronic devices such as wearables, mobile devices, and IoT equipment have become ubiquitous. These devices require not only miniaturization for improved design and new functionality but also reduced power consumption to extend battery life. ROHM has continuously developed power ICs to meet these market demands. The BD83070GWL buck-boost power IC, since its productization in 2019, has contributed to enhancing the value of battery-powered applications with its industry-leading high efficiency and ultra-low current consumption performance. As a solution better suited for cutting-edge applications, the BD83070GWL reference board, achieving an ultra-compact mounting area, has been newly developed and made available.
Application Examples
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Wearable devices (smartwatches, smart rings, bio-sensing devices, etc.)
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Mobile devices (AR/VR devices, smartphones, etc.)
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IoT devices (AI sensor nodes, BLE devices, smart locks, small drones, etc.)
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Small battery-powered devices (electronic cigarettes, wireless earphones, digital keys, electric toothbrushes, etc.)
Terminology
- DC-DC Converter, Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost
A type of power IC that converts direct current (DC) voltage from one level to another. Generally, there are “buck” converters that lower voltage and “boost” converters that raise voltage. A “buck-boost” converter can switch between boosting and bucking depending on the input voltage.
