Toshiba Electronics Announces Programmable Digital Voltage Regulator

Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has launched a highly integrated digital dc-dc step-down converter that the company says will save space, improve efficiency and increase the design flexibility of point-of-load (PoL) power designs. The new TC7750FTG programmable voltage regulator combines a PWM driver and FETs with controller and feedback loop in a single, compact package.

Offering communication with a host controller via the PMBus, Toshiba says the POLA-compliant allows designers to implement advanced diagnostics and protection features and improved power management functions. PMBus communication can also simplify product development by allowing key parameters to be set via a PC rather than changing external components. In addition, designers can use the feature to provide automatic performance optimization to take account of temperature, load regulation, voltage changes and other environmental variations during product operation.

The TC7750FTG will work with a wide 2.7 – 5.5V input range and can operate at three switching frequencies: 750kHz, 1.5MHz and 3MHz. Maximum output current is rated at 3.0A, and output voltages range from 0.6V to VIN – 0.3V. Because it is a fully integrated solution requiring few external components board space and current consumption are lower than discrete alternatives.

Monitoring functions offered by the new Toshiba digital regulator include programmable under and over output voltage detection (POUVD and POOVD respectively); programmable average output current detection (POOCD); programmable over temperature detection (POTD); and programmable under input voltage detection (PIUVD). Thermal shut down and overcurrent shutdown protection is also built-in to the device.

The TC7750FTG is supplied in a QFN28 package measuring just 4 x 4mm.