New Industry Products

Microchip Technology Unveils New 1.5A LDO

August 22, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Microchip Technology Inc. announced its new 1.5A LDO that incorporates shutdown, power good, programmable power good delay and bond-wire compensation, all on a single chip. The MCP1727 is a highly efficient, low-power LDO that provides high output current and low output voltage in small, thermally capable packages (8-pin SOIC or 3 mm x 3 mm DFN). With this combination of features, the MCP1727 is well-suited for powering a variety of high-performance embedded processors and next-generation logic cores.

The push for smaller-geometry processing technology has created a new class of advanced CPUs and logic cores that require higher operating currents and lower core voltages. With output voltage down to 0.8V and output current up to 1.5A, the MCP1727 is equipped to power these types of systems. The device's dropout voltage of 300 mV (typical) at full load current provides a low voltage differential, and its quiescent current of 140 µA (typical) enables low power consumption during regulation. Additionally, the MCP1727 offers a shutdown feature that enables it to be controlled by system control logics, and ceramic output-capacitor stability leads to smaller, more efficient and cost-effective designs.

The MCP1727 also has an output voltage sense feedback pin that is used for bond wire compensation. This allows the device's bond wire to compensate for output voltage changes, enabling faster, more accurate output voltage regulation. The power good output with user- programmable delay gives designers the flexibility to program system delays across a wider timeframe, for a more broad range of system applications. Its adjustable output voltage feature helps to reduce customer inventory levels.

Applications for the MCP1727 include high-performance embedded processors and next-generation logic cores like those found in computer applications (PC motherboards, add-in cards, graphics processor cards); consumer applications (game consoles, liquid crystal display projection devices, high-end television devices, digital set-top boxes); as well as industrial and power-supply applications (switch-mode power supply post-regulators and automated control).

Microchip offers the MCP1726 1A LDO Evaluation Board (Part # MCP1726EV) that can be used to support development using the MCP1727. The board enables designers to evaluate the MCP1727 with the power good output, shutdown input and power good delay features. It is available for $30. The MCP1727 is available for sampling and volume production now. The MCP1727 is $1.26 each in 10,000-unit quantities for the 8-pin SOIC package, and $1.34 each in 10,000-unit quantities for the 3 mm x 3 mm, 8-pin DFN package.