MaxLinear Launches Jeju MxL77904 Power Management IC for 1.6T Optical Modules in AI Data Centres

MaxLinear, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXL), a leader in high-speed connectivity, mixed-signal and power-management semiconductor solutions, introduced Jeju™ (MxL77904), a highly integrated, custom multiphase power management IC (PMIC) designed for maximum efficiency in DSP-based 1.6T pluggable optical modules used in AI infrastructure networks.

Purpose-built for advanced 3nm and 4nm CMOS Optical PAM4 DSPs, Jeju is designed to deliver industry-leading peak power efficiency of up to 95% and power savings of up to 0.5W per 1.6T PAM4 DSP versus conventional PMICs. Due to its strong power-efficiency performance, Jeju is designed to reduce both module power consumption and heat dissipation, helping lower thermal management costs and improve overall module manufacturing yield. Jeju is optimized for MaxLinear’s Rushmore 1.6T PAM4 DSP and supports DSP-based 1.6T module designs across the industry.

As 1.6T and higher speed DSPs move to advanced 2nm, 3nm and 4nm CMOS process nodes, operating voltages continue to decline below 1V while current requirements increase rapidly. Conventional PMICs typically operate outside their optimal power-efficiency range and deliver poorer peak power-efficiency under the low-voltage and high-current operation requirements of advanced DSPs. This increases power loss and thermal burden within the constrained power budgets and space limits of OSFP and QSFP-DD optical modules. Jeju is specifically optimized for these requirements.

“At 1.6T and 3.2T, every watt matters. We expect combined 800G and 1.6T optical module volumes to approach 200 million units in 2026, making power efficiency increasingly critical. Jeju is purpose-built for the low-voltage, high-current requirements of advanced optical DSPs, delivering up to 0.5W savings per DSP in a 1.6T optical module. Combined with MaxLinear’s Rushmore 1.6T PAM4 DSP, Jeju is designed to help optical module makers reduce power, thermal load, and design complexity. We are engaging with lead optical-module customers to support early evaluation and platform development,” said Amit D. Bavisi, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and General Manager of MaxLinear’s Analog Mixed-Signal Business Unit.

Custom-Designed for the Power Profile of 1.6T Optical DSPs

MxL77904 incorporates MaxLinear’s proprietary Constant On-Time (COT) power controller architecture, delivering fast transient response using conventional ceramic output capacitors without requiring external loop compensation. This enables tight voltage regulation with lower output capacitance, which can reduce component count, board area, and BOM cost.

Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS), controlled through I²C registers or GPIO interfaces, allows optical module designers to optimize power consumption and thermal load across operating states. Flexible 4+0, 3+1, 2+1+1 and 1+1+1+1 configurations, with up to 5A per phase, support a wide range of DSP, optical component, and module power architectures.

Key Benefits

• Maximum efficiency at 1.6T DSP load points: Saves up to 0.5W per DSP compared with existing PMICs and delivers up to 95% peak conversion efficiency on low-voltage, high-current DSP core rails. Automatic phase shedding and phase adding, combined with Auto-PFM operation, reduce heat generation in thermally constrained modules.
• Fast transient response with lower output capacitance: Maintains tight DSP rail regulation during dynamic load transients while reducing the required output capacitance and board area.
• High DC and AC power accuracy to reduce dynamic power: Jeju’s 0.5% typical DC output-voltage accuracy, its high-resolution tracking output voltage steps, and tight control of overshoot and undershoot during load transients help reduce module-level operating voltage margin requirements and DSP dynamic power consumption.
• Low-noise power delivery: Low-impedance integrated MOSFETs, programmable 600kHz to 4MHz switching frequency range, and remote voltage sensing support sensitive PAM4 DSP and optical analog circuitry.
• Compact integration: Small 54-ball WLCSP package supports high-density QSFP-DD, OSFP, and future pluggable module designs.
• Integrated protection: On-chip over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, negative-current, short-circuit and over-temperature protection support the reliability requirements of data center optics.

Expanding MaxLinear’s Optical-Module Platform BOM

The MxL77904 builds on MaxLinear’s heritage of custom power-management solutions for complex SoCs, including multi-rail, multiphase power architectures for broadband and connectivity platforms. Designed to broadly support DSP-based 1.6T modules, the MxL77904 expands MaxLinear’s data center component portfolio for optical modules beyond signal processing into optimized power delivery. Together with the Rushmore 1.6T PAM4 DSP, it brings MaxLinear’s expertise in signal processing, optical connectivity and power management to next-generation optical modules.

“Efficient power delivery is now essential for meeting 1.6T module power targets,” said Rajneesh Gaur, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MaxLinear’s Data Center Connectivity Business Unit. “Pairing Jeju with our Rushmore DSP gives module partners a combined signal-processing and power-management solution that is designed to simplify integration, lower module power, and accelerate time to market for next-generation AI data center optics.”