Device converts battery or bus voltage to its system requirement; operates over many input/output conditions
Microchip Technology announced a 500mA, DC-to-DC synchronous step-down converter that operates over a multitude of input and output conditions. This gives designers an efficient method of transforming battery or bus voltage to its system requirements.
Used in applications such as cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras and USB-powered devices, the MCP1601 operates in three modes and automatically switches among them to follow a maximum efficiency curve for the given input/output (I/O) condition. The three operating modes include: pulse width modulation (PWM), for normal medium-to-high load conditions; pulse frequency modulation (PFM), for light or no-load conditions over an extended time; and low-drop-out mode (LDO), for cases when the input approaches the output voltage.
This DC-to-DC converter also has integrated safety features, such as over-current, over-temperature and under-voltage lockout (UVLO) protection to safeguard the converter circuitry. Additionally, the device has an externally controllable shutdown mechanism to minimize drain current during system inactivity. Moreover, the MCP1601 can be implemented with a complete ceramic capacitor solution eliminating the need for larger tantalum caps.
The input voltage on this device ranges from 2.7 to 5.5 volts. The output voltage range is from 0.9V to as high as VIN for the input voltage, while the shutdown current is typically less than 0.1µA. It has a load current capability of up to 500mA continuous and will operate at 100 percent duty cycle or LDO mode when the input voltage approaches the output voltage. The UVLO voltage ranges between 2.4 and 2.7 volts.
Available in an 8-pin MSOP, pricing for this device is $1.85 in 1 000-piece units. Samples and volume-production quantities are available today.
