New Industry Products

Fairchild Offers 3MHz/600mA Synchronous Buck Converter

June 20, 2007 by Jeff Shepard

Fairchild Semiconductor introduced the FAN5350, a 3MHz/600mA dc-dc synchronous buck converter featuring 16µA quiescent current, 20mV transient response and low-voltage ripple. Designed to power DSP core processors, application processors and I/O interfaces, the FAN5350 utilizes Fairchild’s proprietary new ultra-fast architecture that is specifically designed to simultaneously provide what the company claims is industry-leading quiescent current and transient-response performance.

The FAN5350’s 3MHz switching allows the device to employ small chip inductors (1µH) and still maintain low ripple. Package options include both 1.00mm x 1.37mm WLCSP and 3mm x 3mm MLP packages, making it what the company claims is the smallest buck converter on the market. The converter is said to enable designers to meet next-generation load requirements while preserving battery life and saving board space in cell phones, media players, GPS devices, Bluetooth headsets and other single-cell 2.7 to 5.5V lithium-ion-powered portable applications.

"The FAN5350 is the smallest-footprint 3MHz solution and can operate with low-profile 1μH chip inductors while maintaining greater than 90% efficiency," said Peter Khairolomour, Technical Marketing Manager at Fairchild. "Typically, ultra-low quiescent current translates into poor transient response; however, during a load transient swing of 0 to 300mA, the FAN5350’s output sustains a fluctuation of less than 20mV. Transient response is becoming more and more critical as processor voltages continue dropping and load regulation requirements are tightening. I am very proud of our team for developing a product that shatters the age-old myth that quiescent current and transient response performance are mutually exclusive. The FAN5350 with 1.82V output voltage is the first voltage option offering in a growing portfolio of dc/dc synchronous buck converters."

The FAN5350 is a lead (Pb)-free product that meets or exceeds the requirements of the joint IPC/JEDEC standard J-STD-020C and is compliant with European Union regulations now in effect.

The devices are available now with an 8 week ARO, and priced (each, 1000 pcs) at US$ 0.84�FAN5350UCX (1.00mm x 1.37mm WLCSP), and US$ 0.80�FAN5350MPX (3mm x 3mm MLP).