Space Saving DC-DC Switching Mode Regulator in Tiny Package from ACAL Technology

A DC-DC uModule regulator point of load (POL) system with on-board inductor and power components is now offered by ACAL technology. The Linear Technology LTM8021 operates from input supplies 3V to 36V (40V maximum) and provides up to 500 mA.

The LTM8021 small footprint (6.25mm x 11.25mm), low-profile (2.8mm) and lightweight (0.49g), enable system designers to solder the device on the back of the circuit board, creating the room above digital circuits Such as FPGA's, memory and obligations, including HDMI, Ethernet or SMA connectors.

The LTM8021 includes a DC-DC controller IC, power switches, inductor, compensation circuitry and input and output bypass capacitors. The design is so simple as a linear regulator and has the advantage of less heat generation and smaller size. Target applications are systems with 5V, 12V, 24V and 28V rails supply of raw materials, such as medical, industrial, electronic and after-market car.

The LTM8021 regulates an output voltage of 0.8-5V, which is controlled by a single resistor. Encapsulated packaging protects the circuit components against mechanical, chemical and environmental factors, thus improving the reliability of the solution. The LTM8021 is rated for operation from-40C to 85c and is RoHS compliant, although the gold pads the use of leaded and lead-free solders during board, said the company.

Intersil - Tiny 10A power module integrates PWM, drivers, MOSFETs and inductor

The development of the ISL8201M, a highly-integrated new POWER conversion module that saves space and cost has been announced by Intersil.

The ISL8201M is a high-EFFICIENCY low-noise, highly-integrated DC-DC power solution in a thermally enhanced QFN package. Included in the package are the PWM controller, MOSFET drivers, power MOSFETs and inductor along with an optimized compensation circuit.

The device simplifies power supply design as only input and output capacitors and a RESISTOR are needed to implement a complete power solution. This small form factor saves considerable board space while the high integration reduces procurement and placement costs in various applications such as telecommunication, data communication, electronic data processing, WIRELESS network systems, medical and instrumentation, and distributed bus architecture based point of load applications. Also, an onboard input filter supports an ultra-low noise operation thus reducing EMI.

The ISL8201M achieves up to 93percent efficiency and 'excellent' thermal performance due to the QFN package that is designed to offer an optimum heat transfer through the PCB. A copper plate under the package allows the ISL8201M to achieve a power density of approximately 200W/in3, roughly four times that of conventional open-frame modules thereby eliminating the need for heat sinks. Other features include internal soft-start, auto-recovery over-current protection, ENABLE pin option and pre-biased output start-up capability.

The ISL8201M's tiny QFM package measures just 15mm x 15mm x 2.5mm, says the company.

Linear - Flyback switching regulator simplifies design and eliminates optocoupler

The LT3573, an isolated monolithic flyback switching regulator with an integrated 1.25A NPN POWER switch, has been introduced by Linear Technology.

The device significantly simplifies the design of a flyback converter since it does not require a third winding or optoisolator and can sense the output voltage directly from the primary side flyback waveform. The LT3573 operates over an input voltage range of 3V to 40V at output power levels up to 7W and can be used in a wide variety of industrial, medical, datacom and automotive applications requiring isolated power, including marine electronics, low power PoE and VoIP telephone interfaces.

The LT3573 operates in Boundary Mode, which is a variable frequency current mode switching scheme, resulting in a total regulation band of ±3% over a wide input voltage range and output load current in a typical application. Boundary mode operation also permits the use of a smaller transformer when compared to equivalent continuous conduction mode designs. The output voltage is easily set by two external RESISTORs.

The LT3573 has additional features that include an on board LDO for 3rd winding powering, programmable soft start, under-voltage lockout, adjustable current limit and output voltage temperature compensation. The LT3573 is available in a small thermally enhanced MSOP-16 package and is offered in an extended and industrial operating junction temperature range at -40C to 125C, says the company.

Linear - High-efficiency I2C USB power manager and Li-ion charger

An autonomous I2C controlled, high-EFFICIENCY POWER manager, ideal diode controller and Li-Ion/Polymer battery charger has been unveiled by Linear Technology - for portable USB powered devices such as media players, digital cameras, PDAs, PNDs and smart phones.

Parameters including input current limit, charge current, termination current, and float voltage can be programmed via I2C. The I2C port also allows the user to read back system status information. The LTC4099’s switching PowerPath topology seamlessly manages power flow between a wall adapter or USB port and the device’s battery while preferentially providing power to the system load.

For automotive, Firewire, or other high-voltage applications, the device provides Bat-Track control of a Linear Technology companion switching regulator, maximizing battery charger efficiency and minimizing power dissipation. With companion chip input voltages ranging up to 38V (60V transients), the LTC4099 provides a seamless transition between USB and higher voltage power sources.

The LTC4099 prevents damage caused by accidental application of high voltage on the USB input with an overvoltage protection (OVP) circuit – protection up to 68V requires only an external NFET/RESISTOR combination. The LTC4099’s 'instant-ON' operation ensures system load power at plug-in even with a dead battery. Its onboard ideal diode guarantees that ample power is always available to VOUT even if there is insufficient power at the LTC4099’s two input pins. The device’s ideal diode controller can be used to drive the gate of an optional PFET, reducing the impedance between the load and the battery to 30mOhm or less.

The LTC4099’s full-featured single-cell Li-Ion/Polymer battery charger allows the load current to exceed the current drawn from the USB port while conforming to USB load specifications. For fast charging, the IC’s switching input stage converts nearly all of the 2.5W available from the USB port to current, enabling up to 600mA charge current or 700mA system load current from a 500mA limited USB port.

There is also 1.5A charge current available when wall powered. For improved safety margin, an integrated over-temperature battery conditioning circuit can optionally reduce the battery voltage in case both high battery temperature and high battery voltage occur simultaneously. Further, the charger includes thermal limiting, automatic recharge, stand-alone operation with automatic charge termination and fixed duration safety timer, low voltage trickle charging, bad battery cell detection and a thermistor input for temperature-qualified charging. An additional feature of the LTC4099 is a suspend LDO that prevents battery drain when a device is connected to a suspended USB port.The LTC4099 is housed in an ultra-thin (0.55mm) 20-pin 3mm x 4mm QFN package and is 'guaranteed' for operation from -40C to 85C, says the company.