Regulators save board space & heat sink costs

The regulators are offered in both Hyper Speed Control and HyperLight Load architectures, which allow for high VIN (low VOUT) operation and ultra-fast transient response while reducing the required output capacitance and providing very good light-load efficiency. The devices can be used in wide variety applications including industrial control, power metering, telecomms and medical equipment.

The MIC285 regulators feature adjustable output voltage as low as 0.8V with a guaranteed accuracy of ±1%. A constant switching frequency can be programmed from 200kHz to 680kHz, thereby allowing the customer increased flexibility when using a small inductor or operating at higher efficiency using lower switching frequency. The devices offer a full suite of protection features for reliable solutions under fault conditions, including under-voltage lockout to ensure proper operation under power sag conditions, internal soft start to reduce inrush current, fold-back current limit, ‘hiccup’ mode short-circuit protection and thermal shutdown. The regulators operate across a -40 to +125°C junction temperature range and are offered in 24-pin 3x4mm FCQFN packages.

"Small and reliable solutions are mandatory for products that must perform under harsh environments and have space constraints such as industrial applications where the systems are subject to high voltage spikes or high operating ambient temperatures. The MIC285 family of buck converters was designed to provide the high voltage capabilities to withstand these voltage spikes in a tiny 3x4mm package, without compromising efficiency and thermal performance," said Brain Hedayati, Vice President, Marketing, Linear and Power Solutions at Micrel. "Integrating Micrel's HV buck controller, which has a wide input voltage range, with Micrel's FETZilla power MOSFETs and advanced packaging technology, enables Micrel to offer one of the highest power density solutions in the industry. This solution saves customers board space, heat sink costs and cooling energy."

The MIC28511, MIC28512 and the MIC28513 regulators are available now, priced from $1.49, $1.85 and $1.42 respectively, and sold in 1,000-piece quantities.