DC/DC converters simplify design, minimize part count

ZMD AG (ZMDI) is sampling a family of 1, 2, and 3A current-mode synchronous buck DC/DC converter ICs tailored for ease of design, quick product development, and low bill of materials (BOM) costs.

The 1MHz ZMDI ZSPM401x product line consists of three families and 18 products: the ZSPM4011 1A family, the ZSPM4012 2A family, and the ZSPM4013 3A family. The ICs require only four external devices – three capacitors and one inductor. Each family comes in fixed-output voltage options of 1.5, 1.8, 2.5, 3.3 and 5 volts to reduce external part counts, while allowing for quick part selection and easy design. An input voltage range of 6V – 24 V (3A option is 6V to 20V) lets designers target more applications with one basic design technique.

Each family also offers a variable output voltage option of 0.9V to 5V for maximum part flexibility. At 5V in and 1.8V out, the parts offer 90% efficiency. At 6V in and 3.3V out, efficiency increases to 93%. The high efficiency of the design eliminates the need for any external thermal protection. Additional features are input supply under-voltage lockout, soft-start for controlled startup with no overshoot, and full protection for over-current, over-temperature, and Vout over-voltage.

Synchronous switching at 1MHz (± 10%) and internal compensation minimizes the number and size of external parts, minimizing board real estate. A typical, low standby mode of 5µA maximizes energy efficiency while reducing the applications power budget. All of the ICs are designed to operate over a temperature range from -40 to +125ºC.

Target applications include consumer and communications products, such as notebooks, tablets, smart phones, portable GPS systems, printers, cable modems, voice-over-IP  phones, and wireless access points based on the IEEE802.11 wireless local-area-network (LAN) standard.

The ZSPM4011, ZSPM4012, and ZSPM4013 ICs come in 3mm x 3mm 16-pin PQFN packages, featuring a tiny 9mm² footprint.

Pricing: In 1K quantities, the ZSPM4011 costs $1.81, the ZSPM4012, $1.84, and the ZSPM4013, $1.89.  

Availability: In sample quantities now.

Datasheet: Click here.