PCA9460AUKZ - PMIC for i.MX 8ULP, 4 Buck + 5 LDO | NXP
MPN: PCA9460AUKZ β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
PCA9460AUKZ Overview
A power management IC is a highly integrated voltage regulator subsystem that combines multiple DC-DC converters, LDOs, load switches, sequencing logic, and protection functions into one device. In the power-management hierarchy, a PMIC sits above individual regulators: it converts a single system input (here, 2.7 V to 5.5 V, typically a USB or battery rail) into all regulated domains an application processor needs, with coordinated power-up and power-down sequencing controlled over I2C.
Key differentiating features of the PCA9460A include its four buck converters covering the core, DDR, and SoC rails of the i.MX 8ULP, five LDOs for analog, PLL, and I/O supplies, ultra-low standby power consumption, and I2C-programmable output voltages and sequencing. The 13 output channels eliminate dozens of discrete regulators, saving board area in space-constrained wearable and smart-home products.
Architecturally, the PCA9460 is purpose-built and validated against NXP i.MX 8ULP power trees, including LPDDR4 memory rail support. This co-design reduces sequencing-error risk and simplifies software bring-up because NXP provides reference sequencing configurations.
Typical applications include ultra-low-power smart-home and building-security devices, wearables, and smart and medium appliances - domains where standby power and overall PMIC consumption directly determine battery life.
Design consideration: because output voltages and sequencing are I2C-programmable, always load the validated NXP-provided register configuration for your specific i.MX 8ULP variant before first power-up.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in alternatives within the PCA9460 family, and practical design guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PCA9460AUKZ β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PCA9460AUKZ (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Target Processor, Mounting Type, Applications Focus, Function, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PCA9460BUKZ
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βPCA9460CUKZ
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9460AUKZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Function | 13-channel Power Management IC (PMIC) |
| Target Processor | i.MX 8ULP family + LPDDR4 |
| Buck Converters | 4 |
| LDO Regulators | 5 |
| Input Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum Output Current | 1 A (main rail, per DigiKey listing) |
| Package | 42-pin WLCSP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Control Interface | I2C |
| Standby Power | Ultra-low standby power (optimized per NXP) |
| Applications Focus | Ultra-low-power: wearables, smart home, building security, appliances |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R, per Arrow listing) |
PCA9460AUKZ 42-pin wlcsp Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PCA9460AUKZ (42-pin wlcsp package). This power device features gate, drain, and source terminals. For non-polarized packages, refer to the manufacturer datasheet for exact pin 1 orientation and footprint details. Common applications include power supply design, motor driving, and load switching.
No detailed pinout data available for PCA9460AUKZ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PCA9460AUKZ is suitable for 6 applications: Wearables and Portable Health Devices, Smart Home and Building Security, Smart and Medium Appliances, Battery-Powered Industrial IoT Nodes, Handheld HMI and Control Panels, Ultra-Low-Power Reference Designs.
Wearables and Portable Health Devices
The PCA9460AUKZ fits wearable designs because NXP explicitly targets this market: the PMIC's ultra-low standby power consumption directly extends battery life in always-on health bands and smartwatches built on the i.MX 8ULP. Its 2.7 V to 5.5 V input accepts a single-cell Li-ion cell across its full discharge range, while the 4 buck converters and 5 LDOs generate all processor core, memory (LPDDR4), and analog rails from one die. The 42-ball WLCSP minimizes board area, and I2C-programmable sequencing lets firmware enter deep sleep states where PMIC quiescent draw dominates. The trade-off versus discrete regulation is fixed rail structure, but for 8ULP wearables that structure is already validated.
Recommended
Smart Home and Building Security
Smart door locks, security cameras, and building sensors run for years on battery or energy-harvesting supplies, making PMIC standby current a first-order design constraint - exactly the market NXP cites for the PCA9460 family. Paired with the i.MX 8ULP, the PCA9460AUKZ powers the imaging and edge-AI processing duties of security devices while its low standby consumption keeps quiescent drain acceptable between wake events. The 1 A main rail supports the SoC's burst processing, LDOs supply low-noise analog domains for image sensors, and I2C sequencing coordinates rapid wake-up from deep sleep. Integrating 13 channels also simplifies certification and thermal design in sealed enclosures.
Recommended
Smart and Medium Appliances
Connected appliances with displays, voice interfaces, and Wi-Fi need a compact, efficient power system that survives wide input conditions; NXP lists smart and medium appliances as a core PCA9460 application. The PCA9460AUKZ converts a 5 V auxiliary or USB-derived rail (2.7 V to 5.5 V input range) into the full i.MX 8ULP power tree including LPDDR4 memory rails, in one 42-ball WLCSP. Its four bucks deliver the processor core and memory currents up to 1 A on the main rail, while five LDOs feed low-noise analog domains such as touch controllers and audio codecs. I2C control allows the appliance main controller to sequence and monitor rails during standby wake cycles, reducing overall system power.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Industrial IoT Nodes
Industrial sensors, condition-monitoring nodes, and asset trackers benefit from the PCA9460AUKZ's defining trait: minimizing PMIC power overhead so most of the battery budget reaches the workload. When the i.MX 8ULP wakes intermittently to run inference or transmit data, the PCA9460's I2C-configured sequencing brings up 13 rails quickly and coherently, then sheds them cleanly to standby. The wide 2.7 V to 5.5 V input tolerates battery sag and 5 V industrial supplies without front-end regulation, and the WLCSP footprint suits compact node designs. Designers should validate the NXP-provided register configuration against their specific 8ULP variant before production to guarantee rail ordering.
Recommended
Handheld HMI and Control Panels
Battery or USB-powered handheld panels with touch displays need processor, display, memory, and analog rails from a single compact source. The PCA9460AUKZ's 5 V, 1 A main rail supports display backlight boost front ends and the i.MX 8ULP core domains, while its LDOs provide clean rails for touch and audio circuitry where switching noise would degrade performance. The 42-ball WLCSP keeps the power section small enough for slim handheld enclosures, and the 2.7 V to 5.5 V input accepts both Li-ion batteries and USB power directly. I2C telemetry-style control lets the host manage power modes for thermal comfort in hand-held form factors.
Recommended
Ultra-Low-Power Reference Designs
NXP provides reference designs pairing the PCA9460 with the i.MX 8ULP specifically to demonstrate minimum system power consumption, and these serve as starting points for custom ultra-low-power products. Using the reference configuration means rail voltages, sequencing tables, and I2C register maps are pre-validated, eliminating the most common bring-up failure: incorrect power-up ordering that latches the processor or corrupts LPDDR4 initialization. Designers can reuse the reference layout for the 42-ball WLCSP, including via-in-pad fanout and buck-loop minimization. This application suits any new product where the 8ULP is chosen for its power profile and time-to-market matters more than power-tree customization.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PCA9460AUKZ β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PCA9460BUKZ | PCA9460CUKZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 42-pin WLCSP | 42-pin WLCSP - same | 42-pin WLCSP - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Input Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (same family) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (same family) |
| Target Processor | i.MX 8ULP (A-variant power tree) | i.MX 8ULP family (B-variant power tree) | i.MX 8ULP family (C-variant power tree) |
| Standby Power | Ultra-low (NXP-optimized) | Ultra-low (same family) | Ultra-low (same family) |
| LPDDR4 Rail Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- NXP-validated i.MX 8ULP power tree (vs PCA9460BUKZ)
- 13 channels in one WLCSP die (vs PCA9460CUKZ)
- Ultra-low standby power (vs Generic multi-rail PMICs)
Design Notes
Output voltages and power sequencing in the PCA9460AUKZ are I2C-programmable. Do not power the i.MX 8ULP with default register contents - load the NXP-validated configuration file matching your specific 8ULP variant before first power-up. Incorrect rail ordering can prevent LPDDR4 initialization or latch the processor. Keep the configuration in non-volatile host memory and re-apply it at every power cycle; verify against the register map tables in the official NXP PCA9460 datasheet.
The 42-ball WLCSP requires via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout; confirm your PCB fabricator supports the ball pitch with adequate trace/space and filled vias before layout. For the 4 buck converters, place input capacitors as close to the VIN/PVIN balls as possible and minimize switching-node loop area to control EMI. Use a continuous ground plane beneath the PMIC for both return current and heat spreading, and follow the layout guidance in the NXP datasheet.
The 2.7 V to 5.5 V input range covers single-cell Li-ion discharge and 5 V USB rails directly, so no front-end regulator is usually needed. Verify worst-case input sag at battery end-of-discharge stays above 2.7 V under the peak i.MX 8ULP load current, or brownouts may occur during processor wake-up bursts. Estimate total buck power-stage dissipation from datasheet efficiency curves at your actual rail currents rather than typical values.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in provided web data. WLCSP consumer PMIC; verify RoHS/REACH status on the official NXP product page before procurement.
