Texas Instruments Inc. (TI, Dallas, TX) introduced its new TPS6204x family of 1.2A, synchronous, step-down, dc/dc converters, which enable a low quiescent current of 18µA and 95% conversion efficiency to conserve battery life in one-cell, lithium-ion (Li-Ion) or three-cell, nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) powered applications such as wireless PDAs, smart phones, notebooks and broadband equipment.
The converters reduce board space by integrating all necessary switching transistors and operating at a fixed frequency of 1.25MHz to help minimize inductor size. In addition, the devices are available in small 3mm x 5mm, 10-pin, micro-small outline packages (MSOPs), allowing designers to reduce both board space and system cost. The TPS6204x Series manages input voltages from 2.5V to 6V and supply output voltages as low as 0.7V, suitable for suppling the ultra-low core voltage of today’s low-power processors.
Additional features include adjustable and fixed-voltage options; pulse-frequency modulation/pulse-width modulation (PWM) mode for high efficiency over a wide load current range; 100% maximum duty cycle for low drop-out; low noise operation in forced fixed-frequency PWM operation mode; power-save mode operation at light load current levels; and short-circuit detection.
The TPS6204x devices are available now in volume. Suggested pricing in quantities of 1,000 is $2.09 per unit.
