Analog Devices Unveils Step-Down DC-DC Synchronous Regulator For Simplified PoL Power Design
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced the ADP2118 dc-dc switching regulator, the latest in its portfolio of integrated power management switching regulators. The new highly integrated 3A, step-down, dc-dc synchronous regulator includes low on-resistance switching FETs (field-effect transistors) to maximize efficiency and features internal loop compensation, a power-good indicator, precision enable, tracking, and synchronization to simplify design of point-of-load power systems.
The ADP2118 is designed to support high-performance signal-chain loads in applications ranging from medical devices to communications infrastructure equipment where the signal chain may include ADCs (analog to digital converters), DACs (digital-to-analog converters), precision amplifiers and other high-performance, submicron ICs such as DSPs (digital signal processors) and FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays).
"For the design engineer with less time to spend on designing a highly efficient point-of-load power supply, the ADP2118’s internal compensation, high level of integration, and the availability of online ADIsimPower™ design tools, make it very easy to use," said Laurence McGarry, Product Marketing Manager, Analog Devices. "Our goal with this family of regulators is to solve challenging power problems like FPGA-core transient response, system-noise reduction, and thermal management in the same time it takes to design in a linear regulator. We want our customers get to market quickly with power-efficient designs."
Based on a current-mode, fixed-frequency PWM (pulse-width modulation) architecture that provides excellent stability and transient response, the ADP2118 operates at high power-conversion efficiencies up to 96%. Under light loads the regulator can be configured to operate in PFM (pulse frequency modulation) to reduce light load losses.
When multiple ADP2118 regulators are used in a system, a simple, reliable start-up sequence can be implemented using the part’s power-good, enable and tracking features. ADP2118 devices can be synchronized to eliminate beat frequencies between converters and remove the possibility of audible system noise. The new regulator can be synchronized 180 degrees out of phase to reduce input-current ripple and the size of the input capacitance. The ADP2118 features a 600-kHz or 1.2-MHz fixed switching frequency and operates from a wide 2.3 to 5.5V range to accommodate a diversity of point-of-load applications. The output voltage of the ADP2118 is adjustable from 0.6 V to input voltage (VIN), and it is available in preset output voltage options of 3.3, 2.5, 1.8, 1.5, 1.2, and 1.0V. The new regulator draws less than 3µA from the input source when it is disabled.
The ADP2118 is well suited for establishing distributed low-noise analog rails to support other Analog Devices’ components like the latest generation of ADCs, amplifiers and DACs. The fast transient response and ease-of-use make this family perfect for powering FPGAs and Analog Devices’ Blackfin® and SHARC® Processors. Analog Devices’ integrated power management switching regulators are also supported by the ADIsimPower™ design tools, which makes selecting components, simulating power supply performance and building evaluation circuits easy and fast.
The units are priced at $1.90.
