GENEVA and SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and a leader in ICs for Power Conversion, and Flextronics, an innovative supply chain solutions company that delivers design, engineering, manufacturing and logistics services to a wide range of industries and end-markets and the worldwide leader in smartphone and tablet power adapters, have jointly developed a plug-in charging platform based on an ST multi-mode power-management controller that delivers breakthrough technology for mobile devices. The new energy-efficient platform is designed with the industry's most effective power-management architecture to achieve zero no-load power consumption and excellent dynamic load regulation.

With more than 2.4 billion portable/mobile phones, tablets, and computers expected to have been sold in 2014^*, power consumption from chargers left plugged into the wall could be 300 MW¹ or an annual waste of more than 2.5 billion kWh. The ST/Flextronics solution could cut that wasted power to zero, saving more than 200 million gallons of oil² in one year.

The platform, built on the STCH01 controller, offers a high level of integration and is ideal for compact high-power-density smartphone/tablet adapters. ST's controller reduces production costs using an innovative architecture that minimizes transformer size and the number of external components required.

"We're happy to have partnered with the ST team in jointly developing this revolutionary charger platform with zero no-load power consumption," said Nate Vince, president of Flextronics Power. "Flextronics is focused on driving innovation and delivering high-quality and energy efficient power for our customers as they compete in a highly dynamic market." 

"The STCH01-based solution brings unprecedented efficiency and lowers standby power to a whole different level, demonstrating the combination of Flextronics' innovative architecture ideas and ST's undisputed leadership in power-semiconductor technology," said Matteo Lo Presti, Group Vice President and General Manager, Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics. "This collaboration highlights ST's ability to work closely with partners to solve important problems and, with the new plug-in charging platform, to develop products perfectly in line with our strategic growth driver in Energy Conservation and Smart Power."

Technical Details

Housed in a compact SO16N package, ST's STCH01 embeds a controller and two embedded Power FETs in a unique fully integrated solution that is complemented by the proprietary no-load wake-up controller STWK01. Together these ICs allow the lowest power consumption in the market during no load with excellent dynamic load transition response.

The STCH01 implements an innovative power conversion topology that maximizes efficiency, reducing the size of the power transformer by 30% over industry-standard flyback solutions with low electromagnetic emissions that are further reduced using the IC's intelligent jitter function.

The STCH01 is equipped with a full set of protections to ensure high reliability designs of plug-in chargers with minimal external components, reducing bill-of-material and production costs and improving manufacturing.

About STMicroelectronics

ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life augmented.

In 2014, the Company's net revenues were $7.40 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

About Flextronics

Flextronics is a leading end-to-end supply chain solutions company that delivers innovative design, engineering, manufacturing and logistics services to a range of industries and end-markets, including data networking, telecom, enterprise computing and storage, industrial, capital equipment, appliances, automation, medical, automotive, aerospace and defense, energy, mobile, computing and other electronic product categories. Flextronics is an industry leader with $26 billion in sales, generated from helping customers design, build, ship, and service their products through an unparalleled network of facilities and innovation centers in approximately 30 countries and across four continents. Flextronics service offerings and vertically integrated component technologies optimize customer supply chains by lowering costs, reducing supply chain risk, increasing flexibility, and reducing time-to-market. For more information, visit www.flextronics.com or follow us on Twitter @Flextronics.

Press Contacts:

STMicroelectronics
Michael Markowitz
Director Technical Media Relations   
+1 781 591 0354
michael.markowitz@st.com

Flextronics
Renee Brotherton
VP Corporate Communications
+1 408 646 5103
Renee.brotherton@flextronics.com

¹ estimation done with an average of 0.15W consumption in no load for each plug-in charger

² 1 kWh electric energy equivalent to 0.08 gallon of oil or 1.09 pound of coal:  reference US Energy Information Administration
* "Forecast: PCs, Ultramobiles, and Mobile Phones, Worldwide," 4Q 2013 Update, Gartner, Inc.

ST and Flextronics Reveal Revolutionary Plug-In Charger Platform http://hugin.info/152740/R/1895311/672135.pdf

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