Analog Devices Shrinks High-frequency DC/DC Regulators

17th November 2008

Analog Devices

ES Admin

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Analog Devices has introduced what it says is the industry’s smallest 500mA buck regulator, the first of a family of high-frequency 6-MHz dc-to-dc regulators. As the smallest in the 500mA class, the ADP2121 is available in a 1.3mm × 0.9-mm wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) with a height of 0.6 mm. The device requires only two small capacitors and one small inductor, resulting in a 35-percent reduction in PCB area compared with current 3-MHz buck regulator solutions.

The ADP2121 delivers exceptional efficiency and performance, providing system designers with a cost-effective, ultra-small power management solution for portable applications for which board space and battery life are critical, such as thin smart phones, GPS and camera modules, portable disk drives and media players.

With its high-speed proprietary architecture, the ADP2121 buck regulator delivers superior transient performance even with very small 4.7-μF output capacitors.

“It can be a challenge to use new space-saving 0402 (0.04 in × 0.02 in) output capacitors for high-performance point-of-load dc-to-dc applications where the load can toggle between heavy and light operation,” said Arcadio Leon, marketing director for portable power products, Analog Devices. “The ADP2121 was designed specifically for these types of applications, offering excellent transient performance and overall accuracy even in these difficult conditions.”

The ADP2121 also features the lowest-in-class FET on resistance, which helps to maintain the peak efficiency above 90 percent. The device automatically transitions to a low quiescent current power-save mode during light load conditions, which is critical for extending the operating life of high-performance, battery-operated portable electronics.

The ADP2121 solution operates at input voltages ranging from 2.3 V to 5.5 V, meeting the requirements for single Li-Ion, Li-Ion polymer cell and multiple alkaline/NiMH cell applications. Fixed output voltage options are available at 1.8 V, 1.82 V, and 1.85 V, and 1.875 V.