Continua MAX38889 from Maxim Integrated is the small-sized backup regulator that delivers high efficiency in industrial, asset tracking, automotive, and healthcare applications. The 2.5V-to-5.5V, 3A reversible buck/boost regulator offers 9% higher efficiency and one-third the size of competing solutions available in the market. This latest addition to Maxim’s Continua family of backup regulators delivers tight output regulation of 2.5% to support critical applications that demand high accuracy.
The MAX38889 backup regulator features 94% peak efficiency, allowing it to support a longer backup time. Additionally, the small size of the device enables easier integration into space-constrained designs.
Suitable for smart utility meters or automotive dashboard cameras, the MAX38889 Continua regulator operates in buck mode to charge a backup power source like a supercapacitor. The regulator can reverse the direction automatically when the main power goes away. This helps in boosting the supercapacitor voltage to power the system until the main power is restored.
The MAX38889 solution is 64% smaller than the closest competitor (218mm2 vs. 606mm2). This enables the designers to reduce component count, cut board space and save BOM cost. Besides, the smaller size of the regulator makes it easier to integrate into new and existing designs with tight space constraints. The MAX38889 regulates backup power for a wide range of both portable and non-portable applications like retail price scanners and surveillance cameras, and others used in the home, building, automotive, industrial automation, and healthcare IoT. The MAX38889 regulator and MAX38889EVKIT# evaluation kit are available on the company website for $2.36 (1000-up, FOB USA) and $63, respectively. These are also available from authorized distributors too.
