40A Regulator Protects Load by Tripping Upstream Device

Linear Technology Corporation introduces the LTM4636-1, a 40A to 240A scalable step-down µModule switching regulator. The part incorporates protection circuitry that trips a circuit breaker in the event of overvoltage or over-temperature fault conditions to protect itself, the PCB and loads such as high current low voltage processors, FPGAs, GPUs and ASICs.

An output crowbar function quickly clamps the output to protect the load during an overvoltage condition. The LTM4636-1 benefits from an innovative BGA package construction in which the inductor is exposed on top and is used as a heat sink, permitting direct contact with airflow from any direction for more effective cooling.

By stacking the inductor on top of a 16mm x 16mm BGA package, the LTM4636-1 can deliver 40W with only 40 degrees C rise over the ambient temperature (12Vin, 1Vout, 40A, 200LFM). Full-power 40W is delivered up to 83 degrees C ambient and half-power 20W is supported at 110 degrees C ambient.

The LTM4636-1 operates at 92%, 90% and 88% efficiency, delivering 15A, 30A and 40A, respectively, to a 1V load from 12Vin. The µModule regulator is scalable, so four LTM4636-1s in parallel can deliver 160W with only 40 degrees C rise and 88% efficiency (12Vin, 1Vout, 200LFM).

Total device height is 7.07mm with a 16mm x 16mm BGA footprint. In addition to dissipating heat from the top, the LTM4636-1 is designed to uniformly disperse heat from the bottom of the package to the PCB with 144 BGA solder balls, with banks of solder balls assigned as GND, Vin and Vout where high current flows.

The LTM4636-1 operates from 4.7V to 15V input supply and regulates an output voltage from 0.6V to 3.3V. Total dc output voltage accuracy is ±1.3% from –40 to 125 degrees C. 1,000-piece price starts at $44.11 each.