Semtech Expands Buck Regulator Platform with Small 1.8A Dual Point-of-Load Regulator
Semtech Corp. announced the latest device in its buck controller platform. The new SC283 is a small 1.8A dual-channel regulator for point-of-load (POL) applications, combining two step-down regulators in an ultra-small, low-profile 2 x 3 x 0.8mm, 18-pad MLPQ package.
With integrated VID pins to enable independent configuration and control of the output voltages of each regulator, the SC283 eliminates the need for two pairs of external feedback resistors, further reducing the overall design footprint of the device. The SC283 POL regulator operates at a fixed switching frequency of 2.5MHz enabling it to work with very small chip inductors, providing an ultra-compact, 111mm² solution footprint.
"No competitor even gets close to offering 1.8A in a dual buck regulator in this footprint," said Alan Burchfield, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Semtech’s Power Management Group. "This amazingly small size is achieved without compromising performance. In fact, the SC283 offers very high efficiency, excellent transient response and the capability to perform dynamic voltage transitioning, giving designers an easy-to-use, green solution in an incredibly small footprint."
The SC283 supports output currents up to 1.8A per channel, along with very high power conversion efficiency (up to 94%), low shutdown current (1µA typ.) and excellent transient response for fast system wake-up from low-power standby mode to full-power operation. This combination of ultra-small size, high efficiency and high performance makes it an ideal solution for powering a wide range of loads, including analog-to-digital converters, microcontrollers, DSPs and digital ASICs in networking, communications, consumer, industrial and office automation equipment, as well as solid-state drive applications.
The integrated VID pins enable designers to individually configure the output voltages of the two regulators by tying those pins either high or low. Each channel offers fifteen pre-determined output voltages via four control pins that are programmable from 0.8 to 3.3V. Additionally, the VID pins can be switched on-the-fly during operation to enable dynamic control of the output voltages for voltage scaling and power savings when driving some microprocessors or digital ASICs.
The SC283 offers full protection features, including internal soft start to minimize inrush current, input under-voltage lockout, output over-voltage and current-limit protection, and over-temperature protection.
The SC283 is packaged in a low-profile 18-pad, 2 x 3 x 0.8 mm MLPQ package with exposed thermal paddles for excellent heat sinking and is lead-free, halogen-free and fully RoHS compliant. For applications requiring just one regulator, the SC183C offers the same performance, with a single output.
The SC283 is available immediately in production quantities and is priced at $1.32 each in 3,000-piece lots. The ordering code is SC283WLTRT. Evaluation boards (SC283EVB) are also available.
