The devices are the newest members of Semtech’s platform of point of load buck regulators. The combination of internal compensation and a high switching frequency of 2.5 MHz yields a solution foot print of 25mm² with under 1mm profile, which is crucial for many space constrained applications. They are offered in SOT23-5 (2 x 2 x 0.6 mm) package, or a MLP (3 x 3 x 0.6 mm) package, depending on the output current required.
Each of the regulators also delivers a high conversion efficiency for demanding point of load regulation applications. The SC183 is a 2 A buck regulator that offers four VID pins to select from sixteen output voltages, which may be adjusted on the fly (Dynamic Voltage Scaling) for energy efficiency. This feature also reduces inventory management cost.
Each of these new products also caters to complex dynamic loads with excellent load transient response and settling time. All step-down regulators are compatible with multi-layer ceramic input and output filter capacitors that reduce system cost and improve reliability. Low noise and ripple, a critical requirement for deep sub-micron CMOS loads, is inherent in the combination of higher switching frequency, control loop bandwidth and multi-layer ceramic filter capacitors. In certain cases chip filter inductors may be used to increase power density without compromising electrical performance.
All of the new buck regulators are available immediately in production quantities. The SC4626 (order code: SC4626XSKTRT) is priced at $0.38 each in 3,000-piece lots. The SC189 with SOT23-5 package (order code: SC189XSKTRT) is priced at $0.39 each in 3,000-piece lots; the same part in the MLPD-UT6 package (order code: SC189XULTRT) is priced at $0.42 each. And, the SC183 (order code: SC183CULTRT) is priced at $0.46 each in 3,000-piece lots.