Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd. (Japan) announced what is claimed to be the world's first surface-mountable micro dc/dc converter. Under low power output, the dc/dc converter is suitable for use in portable or other hand-held devices, providing a distributed power source that minimizes power loss through supply voltage control of the unit's RF power amplifier circuit.
The chip provides a high-power output per unit volume of 20W per cubic centimeter, and operates at up to 85 percent efficiency. This translates to about 39 percent increased talk time for cellular phones (from 180 to 250 minutes).
The converters accept input voltages from 3V to 5.5V and provide an adjustable output from 0.8Vdc to 3Vdc at 350mA, with a typical output ripple of only 20mVpp. The new converters come in an ultra-compact package that typically measures 5.7mm x 4.2mm x 2.35mm.
