Space-saving digital power management IC features Zilker Labs’ patented technology

Intersil has introduced the ZL2008, a high-performance synchronous step-down DC-DC converter with pin-strap compensation and current sharing. Taking advantage of Zilker’s patented Digital-DC™ technology, the ZL2008 is designed for digital power supply module and system designers who demand easy-to-use board-level power supply configuration to keep ahead of rapidly changing market requirements.

Key features and benefits incude:Easy-to-use pin-strap compensation and current sharing. The compensation and transient response of the ZL2008 can be optimized for load current and output capacitance by adjusting resistor pin-straps. Current sharing of up to eight devices in parallel with individual phase enable/disable pins is easily configurable; Pin-strap power management configuration. Advanced power management features such as digital soft-start delay and ramp, sequencing, tracking and margining are fast and easy to implement. Power supply reliability and availability can be improved through real-time monitoring using the I2C/SMBus interface with the PMBus protocol;
Interoperability with Zilker’s Digital-DC device family. The ZL2008 includes the Digital-DC bus for seamless interoperability between Zilker Labs devices to simplify power and fault management. Customers can take advantage of the entire family of Digital-DC devices for all DC power conversion and management needs.

The ZL2008 is a synchronous buck converter with integrated 3A MOSFET drivers that operate on single supply from 3V to 14V. Output voltages range from 0.54V to 5.5V with ±1% output voltage accuracy and 200kHz to 1.4MHz operation. In addition, there is current sharing with individual phase enable/disable pins, optional I²C/SMBus configuration, and external clock synchronization.

Power management features include coincidental/ratiometric tracking, power up/down sequencing, voltage margining, and voltage and current monitoring as well as internal temperature monitoring. There is extensive fault handling for all parameters thanks to the on-board Snapshot™ parameter capture. The product also has on-chip non-volatile memory (NVM) for storing custom configurations.

The ZL2008 is available in 6x6mm 36-lead QFN package.