Miniscule step-down convertor delivers 500mA

The TPS62300 is billed as the industry's smallest, most efficient, high-accuracy, step-down DC/DC convertor for space-constrained applications.

The TPS62300 is billed as the industry's smallest, most efficient, high-accuracy, step-down DC/DC convertor for space-constrained applications.

The tiny power management integrated circuit (IC) is ideal for smartphones, WLAN and Bluetooth equipment, digital still cameras and other battery powered devices.

Leveraging advanced analogue process technology, TI's new TPS62300 step-down, 500mA convertor with integrated FETs delivers unprecedented levels of power conversion efficiency and voltage regulation accuracy from a lead-free, 2 x 1mm chip-scale package.

The synchronous, switch-mode device achieves up to 93% power conversion efficiency while operating at a fixed frequency of 3MHz.

The TPS62300 can deliver DC voltage regulation accuracy from -0.5 to +1.3% over the entire industrial temperature range.

In addition, the device's excellent load transient response and flexible output voltage range of 5.4V down to an ultralow 0.6V, allows it to effectively support demanding core power requirements of low-voltage DSPs, multimedia application processors and communications chipsets.

The TPS62300's 3MHz switching frequency and unique design topology allows designers to reduce board space by applying smaller external components, including a small form factor, low-cost 1uH chip inductor and 4.7uF output capacitor, without compromising performance and efficiency.

The result is the industry's smallest, complete low-power DC/DC implementation (5 x 5mm) that supports 500mA current requirements.

The TPS62300 efficiently supports leading low-power processors, such as TI's new low-power, 200MHz DSPs, the TMS320C5503, C5507 and the C5509A processors for portable applications.

Moreover, TI will include TPS6230x power conversion ICs in future wireless chipsets that support 2.5G and 3G smartphones.

The convertor also can be used in high-performance DSP-based digital media chipsets optimised for digital still cameras, WLAN, Bluetooth and USB-based DSL modems.

"Portable systems powered by DSPs and other microcontrollers are requiring lower system and core voltages supplied by smaller, more efficient DC/DC convertors in an effort to prolong battery life and system run-times".

"Even the fastest, power-optimised DSPs still need high performance analogue power ICs to efficiently convert available battery power to the processor", said Dave Heacock, Vice President of TI's Portable Power Management Business.

"The TPS62300 gives portable designers access to the smallest, high-accuracy 500mA DC/DC solution, simplifying design, as well as reducing board space and time-to-market".

In addition to the TPS62300 step-down IC, TI has also released a new family of synchronous switch, 600mA DC/DC boost convertors for innovators who design small, simple, battery-powered equipment, including wireless and PC accessories, such as headsets and pointing devices.

The new TPS6107x family, available in a six-pin, 3 x 3mm ThinSOT-23 package, supports input voltages of 0.9 to 5.5V, and generates output voltages up to 5.5V at greater than 90% power efficiency using a small 4.7uH inductor and ceramic capacitors.

The TPS6107x devices are ideal for small portable applications that use one or two alkaline or nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, or a single-cell lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery.

The convertors feature a low quiescent current of 15uA typical and a maximum shutdown current of 1uA to conserve battery power.

The TPS6107x devices operate at 1.2MHz, and can deliver output currents in excess of 75mA at 3.3V from a 0.9V supply and 150mA at 3.3V from a 1.8V supply.

The output voltage is adjustable through the use of an external resistor divider.

The TPS61070 features a light-load efficient pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) mode, whereas the TPS61071 operates in a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) mode.

The TPS6230x and TPS6107x families of convertors are available today in volume from TI and its authorised distributors.

The TPS6230x DC/DC convertors come in a highly reliable, eight-pin, wafer chip scale (2 x 1mm) package or a 10-pin QFN (3 x 3mm) package, and are priced at $1.85 each in quantities of 1000 units.

The synchronous TPS6107x devices come in a six-pin, ThinSOT-23 package, and are priced in quantities of 1000 at $0.95 per unit.

Evaluation modules of the TPS62300 and TPS61070, application notes and TI's new online VIP power management product selection tools are available through the TI power website.

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