12V / 10A, 10-MHz Synchronous DC-DC Converter

Texas Instruments (TI) today introduced the first 12-V, 10-A, 10-MHz series-capacitor buck converter with more than 50A per cubic centimeter in current density, which is claimed to be four-times higher than any other 12-V power management component or solution available today. The unique topology of the TPS54A20 SWIFT synchronous dc-dc converter enables high-frequency operation at up to 5MHz per phase without special magnetics or compound semiconductors, which designers can use for 8-V to 14-V input and 10-A output applications.

The TPS54A20 features a unique two-phase, series-capacitor dc-dc buck topology that merges a switched-capacitor circuit with a multiphase buck converter. This capacitive conversion technology enables efficient, high-frequency operation and measures as much as seven times smaller than conventional converters.

TPS54A20 key features and benefits include: Tiny solution: Small HotRodâ„¢ quad flat no-lead (QFN) packaging and inexpensive, 2- to 5-MHz inductors enable a 131-mm2 solution size that consumes 50 percent less area than similar 500-kHz dc-dc converter designs.

Low profile: Measuring less than 2 mm in height, the reduced size, weight and bill of materials (BOM) allows placement of tiny 10-A voltage regulators on the back side of a printed circuit board (PCB), enabling engineers to take advantage of the small size that the TPS54A20 offers for industrial servers or other space-constrained applications.

Multi-megahertz operation: A 14-ns minimum on-time allows for 4-/7-/10-MHz operation without compromising efficiency or EMI performance.

The TPS54A20 dc-dc converter is available in volume now from TI and its authorized distributors. Offered in a 20-pin, 3.5-mm-by-4-mm-by-1-mm thermally enhanced HotRod QFN package, the TPS54A20 is priced at US$3.25 in 1,000-unit quantities.