Enpirion Introduces Feature-Rich DC-DC Converters For Low-Power Switching

Enpirion announced the availability of two feature-rich voltage mode synchronous buck dc-dc converters: the 6A EN5364 and the 9A EN5394. These low-power switch-mode converters are complete power systems on a chip (PwrSoC), achieving up to 93% efficiency and integrating the inductor, power switches, gate drive, controller, and loop compensation, all in tiny 8 x 11 x 1.85mm packages. The 9A EN5394 sets a new standard in power density by delivering 100W per square inch (15W per square centimeter).

According to the company, leading OEMs have widely adopted this technology and are already designing with Enpirion’s new 6 and 9A dc-dc converters. The parts meet the precise voltage and fast transient requirements of high-performance applications such as set-top boxes/HD DVRs, LAN/SAN adapter cards, audio/video equipment, optical networking, multi-function printers, test and measurement, embedded computing, storage, and servers.

Operating the EN5364 and EN5394 power devices requires very few external components, resulting in simplified board design and layout, as well as improved manufacturability and reliability. The two parts are pin compatible, offering a scalable power solution that enables the user to easily tune to their design as the power requirements evolve. A rich set of features, including phase-lock operation and phase delay, facilitates ease of use in systems that are sensitive to ripple and beat frequencies.

Key features of the EN5364 and EN5394 include: wide input voltage range of 2.375 to 6.6V; 4MHz operating frequency with the ability to synchronize to an external system clock or other Enpirion parts; output voltage margining; pre-bias monotonic start-up; master/slave configuration for paralleling up to four PwrSoC devices for greater power output (up to 24A for the EN5364, and 36A for the EN5394); programmable phase delay between Master/Slave and Slave/Slave devices for lower input and output ripple; and multiple devices on a system board can be phase locked to eliminate beat frequencies.

"The EN5364 and EN5394 deliver performance, simplicity and superior noise reduction," said Dr. Ashraf Lotfi, Enpirion’s founder and CTO. "With the number of device features and functions increasing and equipment form-factors shrinking, these power converters give designers a critical advantage."

Enpirion’s feature-rich power devices are production qualified and available now, with pricing set at $6.10 for the EN5364 and $7.50 for the EN5394 in quantities of 1000 parts.