Maxim's Ultra-Small Step-Down Converters Deliver the Industry's Lowest Quiescent Current and Highest Peak Efficiency for Always-On Automotive Applications

MAX20075 and MAX20076 enable 50% savings in board space

System designers looking to create small and highly efficient 40 V load dump-tolerant applications can now utilize the ultra-compact, pin-compatible MAX20075 and MAX20076 step-down converters from Maxim Integrated Products. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 step-down converters offer the industry's lowest quiescent current (I_Q) and comes in an ultra-small size solution with integrated compensation. This enables minimal external components that can lead up to 50% savings in board space making them ideal products for always-on automotive applications.

Customers expect always-on applications to bring them experiences richer and more compelling than ever before. However, designers are challenged with having to balance delivering advanced features with meeting size constraints, power-saving features, and high efficiency.

The MAX20075 and MAX20076 in peak current mode draw the industry's lowest I_Q – just 3.5 µA in the low power operating mode, which is key to meeting the stringent OEM IQ consumption requirements of 100 µA per module. The converters enable low noise operation via pin-controlled spread spectrum and fixed 2.1 MHz operation to meet CISPR 25 Class 5 EMI compliance. Furthermore, added advantage of the 2.1 MHz operation and internal compensation is that it lowers the solution size and the bill of materials (BOM) compared to a non-synchronous device that operates in the AM band. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 are available with a low minimum on-time mode operation, which allows the converters to support large input-to-output conversion ratios. For example, V_BATT input to V_OUT of < 3 V at 2.1 MHz; this translates to not having to use a secondary supply, which reduces overall BOM cost by $0.30 to incorporate new functions into the design for greater flexibility. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 meet AEC-Q100, are available in a 3 mm × 3 mm TDFN package, and operate over the –40 °C to +125 °C temperature range.

Key Advantages

• Industry's Lowest Quiescent Current:
  Offers 3.5 µA I_Q compared to traditional solutions that offer 15-30 µA IQ; flexibility for more budget dispersed throughout the system; ability to support faster start-up times, consume lower power, and feature low minimum on-time operation mode
   
• Highest Peak Efficiency:
  Delivers highest peak efficiency of 91% compared to competitive solutions
   
• Ultra-Small Solution Size:
  12-pin TDFN and side-wettable TDFN packages (3 mm × 3 mm) with integrated compensation enables very few external components for 50% savings in board space
   
• EMI mitigation:
• Spread spectrum control and internally fixed at 2.1 MHz assist with CISPR25 Class 5 EMI compliance; supports the increasing need for more processing power in ADAS applications

Availability and Pricing

The MAX20075 and MAX20076 are available at Maxim's website.