Microchip Technology AT73C202

Overview

AT73C202 from Atmel is a power and battery management IC designed for 2.5G GSM cellular phones, integrating a 300mA/1.8V–2.5V DC-DC converter, seven LDOs (including dual 130mA/2.8V RF LDOs, 130mA/2.7V–2.8V analog LDO, 80mA/2.8V I/O PAD LDO, 10mA SIM LDO, 2mA backup battery LDO, and 0.5mA RTC LDO), Li-ion/Li-polymer charger controller, vibrator/buzzer drivers, SIM level shifters, and ultra-low sleep mode current (17 µA typ). It serves as the central power subsystem for baseband, RF, analog, memory, and peripheral blocks in mobile handsets.

For engineers reviewing the AT73C202 datasheet, AT73C202 pinout, AT73C202 application, or AT73C202 equivalent, this page delivers verified specifications including DC-DC output voltage accuracy (±50 mV static load regulation), RF LDO PSRR (70–73 dB at 217 Hz), V-CORE efficiency (90% at 10–200 mA), RTC LDO quiescent current (4.8–9.7 µA), and FBGA-49 package mechanical data - all critical for GSM phone power architecture validation and BOM selection.

Technical Context

The AT73C202 implements a hardwired power management state machine that autonomously handles wake-up/shut-down sequencing, charger plug-in/out detection (via DC-ON), battery pre-charge (50 mA pulsed), and safe start-up under low-battery or thermal fault conditions. Its DC-DC converter supports both PWM mode (1.8V/2.5V outputs) and LDO mode (1.75–2.45V) selectable via BB1 and ECO-MODE pins, enabling dynamic core voltage scaling during transmission bursts.

Seven dedicated LDOs are partitioned by function: dual high-PSRR RF LDOs (70–73 dB) with 29–37 µV_RMS noise for sensitive transceiver biasing; an analog LDO (2.7–2.85V, 130 mA) with 70 dB PSRR; a 2.8V/80mA digital PAD LDO; a 1.5V/0.5mA ultra-low-power RTC LDO; a 2.4–2.75V/5mA backup battery LDO; and a 1.8V/2.8V/10mA SIM LDO with integrated level shifting - all sharing independent enable controls and ground domains.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

The AT73C202 is housed in a 49-ball FBGA package (7×7 matrix, 0.65 mm pitch, 5 mm × 5 mm outline) with dedicated ground balls (AA-GND, A-GND, D-GND, GND-REG1, GND-RF) and functionally isolated power domains for RF, analog, digital, and charger sections.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar power management applications.

Compared with MAX1586B and TPS65561, the AT73C202 uniquely combines GSM-specific features - including dual high-PSRR RF LDOs, hardware-enforced battery pre-charge, SIM level shifting, and 17 µA sleep current - within a compact FBGA package optimized for 2.5G handset form factors.

Availability

AT73C202 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for GSM handset design, cellular baseband power subsystems, and RF transceiver bias applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and automotive-qualified thermal performance.

Supply support for AT73C202 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Atmel Corporation (now part of Microchip Technology) is a semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, nonvolatile memory, and power management ICs for embedded and mobile applications.

The AT73C202 belongs to Atmel's Power Management for Mobiles (PM) product line, engineered specifically to consolidate power, battery charging, RF/analog/digital rail generation, and SIM interface functions into a single IC for cost-sensitive 2.5G GSM handsets.

FAQ

What is the primary application domain for the AT73C202?

The AT73C202 is purpose-built for 2.5G GSM cellular handsets, serving as the central power management unit that integrates DC-DC conversion, seven LDOs (for RF, analog, digital, RTC, SIM, and backup battery), Li-ion charging control, vibrator/buzzer drivers, and SIM interface level shifting. Its design targets space-constrained, battery-operated mobile phones requiring ultra-low sleep current (17 µA typ) and GSM-specific noise immunity.

Does the AT73C202 support both 1.8V and 2.8V SIM card voltages?

Yes, the AT73C202 includes a dedicated SIM LDO with programmable output voltage. The SIM-1V8/2V8 pin selects between 1.8V (when driven high) and 2.8V (when driven low), and the SIM-VCC output delivers up to 10 mA at the selected voltage. This eliminates external level shifters and supports hot-swappable SIM cards in dual-voltage GSM handsets.

How does the AT73C202 manage battery charging safety?

The AT73C202 implements hardware-enforced charging safety: pre-charge limits current to 50 mA for batteries below 3.2V; fast/pulse charge is software-controlled via the CHG pin; and thermal protection disables charging if junction temperature exceeds 120°C. Battery voltage monitoring via BAT-VOLT and external temperature sensing ensure compliance with Li-ion charge profiles without relying solely on baseband firmware.

What is the significance of the 70–73 dB PSRR specification for the AT73C202's RF LDOs?

The 70–73 dB PSRR at 217 Hz means the AT73C202's V-RF1 and V-RF2 LDOs attenuate baseband switching noise by over 1,000×. This is critical for GSM transceivers, where 217 Hz ripple from the DC-DC converter could otherwise degrade transmitter spectral purity (ACPR) and receiver sensitivity (BER), causing failed conformance testing.

Can the AT73C202 operate with a dead or deeply discharged battery?

Yes - the AT73C202 initiates autonomous pre-charge when VBAT < 3.2V, delivering pulsed 50 mA current to recover the battery before enabling full system power. Its power-on controller validates battery voltage (>3.2V), thermal status (<120°C), and charger presence before asserting V-CORE, ensuring safe startup even after complete discharge or cold-temperature storage.