TI unveils smallest 6-A, 17-V step-down DC/DC converter

DALLAS, USA: Extending its family of easy-to-use SWIFT(TM) power management ICs, Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced the industry's smallest single-chip, 6-A, 17-V step-down synchronous switcher with integrated FETs.

The high-performance TPS54620 is 60 percent smaller than today's multi-chip converters, resulting in a complete 6-A power solution less than 195 mm2 -- one-fourth the size of a postage stamp. 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.

"As telecom designs become more dense and complex, they need more integrated, highly efficient power management devices that support a 12-V power rail," said Steve Anderson, senior vice president of TI's Power Management business unit. "We continue to develop smaller, more robust SWIFT converters, so designers can more quickly develop differentiated products for the market."

In addition to size improvements, the TPS54620 offers a high degree of performance and reliability, such as a highly accurate voltage reference with +/- one percent accuracy over temperature. Achieving a 95-percent power conversion efficiency and a 25 percent lower Rds(on) than previous 6-A SWIFT devices, the converter easily powers deep sub-micron TI digital signal processors (DSPs) and other embedded processors, such as FPGAs and ASICs.

Features and benefits of TPS54620
* The SWIFT device supports a 6-A continuous, 8-A peak load current, and a power stage input voltage range from 1.6 V to 17 V.
* 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 mm 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.
* Feature-rich IC includes power-good, enable and tracking pins for sequencing.
* Broadest range of monolithic and multi-chip solutions.

TI provides the broadest range of step-down converters in the industry, including its SWIFT and discrete DC/DC converters.

In addition to the TPS54620, TI recently introduced its new TPS54418 4-A switcher with integrated FETs, which supports input voltages from 2.95 V to 6 V. The device switches up to 2 MHz, can be synchronized and achieve greater than 95-percent power efficiency in a small 3x3mm QFN package.

The TPS54620 is available in volume now from TI and its authorized distributors in a 3.5x3.5mm QFN package. Suggested resale pricing is $1.95 in 1,000-unit quantities. The TPS54418 has a suggested resale price of $2.15 in 1,000-unit quantities.