Step-down dc/dc converter offers 95% efficiency

Extending its family of easy-to-use SWIFT power management integrated circuits (ICs), Texas Instruments has introduced the industry’s smallest single-chip, 6-A, 17-V step-down synchronous switcher with integrated FETs, according to company officials. Achieving 95% power conversion efficiency and a 25% lower Rds (on) than previous 6-A SWIFT devices, the new TPS54620 dc/dc converter easily powers deep sub-micron digital signal processors (DSPs) and other embedded processors, such as FPGAs and ASICs.

The high-performance converter is 60% smaller than today’s multi-chip converters, say company sources. The 1.6-MHz monolithic dc/dc converter supports input voltages from 4.5 to 17 V, allowing it to manage space-constrained 5 V and 12 V point-of-load designs, such as a wireless base station or high-density server.

The SWIFT device supports a 6 A continuous, 8 A peak load current, and a power stage input voltage range from 1.6 to 17 V; a 1.6-MHz synchronous converter integrates two high-efficiency MOSFETs (26 milliOhms and 19 milliOhms) and comes in a space-saving, thermally enhanced 3.5 x 3.5 mm monolithic QFN package that minimizes footprint. Synchronized switching frequency from a master clock eliminates beat noise in sensitive data acquisition circuitry, while a feature-rich IC includes power-good, enable, and tracking pins for sequencing. Visit Texas Instruments for more information.