AnalogicTech Announces High Power DC-DC Boost Converter for Space-Constrained Applications

Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc. announced the AAT1210, a high power, high current step-up converter for thin, small-footprint portable applications. Supplying up to 4.5W of power, the company claims that this new converter is the first to take a single-cell Lithium-ion battery voltage and boost it to a 5V/900 mA output in a total solution less than 1 mm in height.

"Many portable system designers face the daunting task of creating a high voltage (5V or higher) power bus in systems powered by a single-cell Lithium-ion battery without violating extremely tight space constraints," said Bill Weiss, Product Line Director at AnalogicTech. "The AAT1210 is the industry’s first boost converter to supply this high voltage/high current source and still allow designers to use extremely small external components including inductors under 1 mm in height, and thus achieve a total solution less than or equal to 1 mm tall."

Operating from an input range of 2.7 to 5.5V, this dc-dc boost converter features an output voltage which can be set from VIN + 0.5V up to 18V. A hysteretic current mode control circuit simplifies system design by eliminating the need for external compensation. A high 2 MHz switching frequency enables the use of extremely small and low-profile external components and allows designers to build total solutions that consume less PCB area and are less than or equal to 1mm tall.

To help minimize leakage current common on boost converters, the AAT1210 also features an innovative True Load Disconnect function which isolates the load from the power source when the AAT1210 is turned off. This feature helps the AAT1210 achieve ultra-low sleep mode current consumption without the use of an external MOSFET. In general, the AAT1210 achieves power efficiency levels up to 90% over a wide load range.

The AAT1210 supplies a fixed output voltage which is set using an external resistor divider. As an option, it also offers dynamic voltage scaling in which the output may be adjusted dynamically across a 2.0x range using AnalogicTech’s patented single-wire S2Cwire™ (Simple Serial Control) interface. To ensure reliability, the AAT1210 adds a number of safety features including cycle-by-cycle current limit, integrated soft start, short-circuit and over-temperature protection.

The AAT1210 is specified over the -40 to +85°C temperature range. It is available in a Pb-free, thermally-enhanced, 16-pin TDFN34 package and sells for $1.31 each in 1000 piece quantities.