Buck-Boost Controller Suits Medium-Power Loads

Oct 17, 2007 5:21 PM

Linear Technology’s LTC3785 is a 96% efficient medium-power buck-boost switching regulator controller that operates from of 2.7 V to 10 V. The IC requires only a single inductor, and offers an output voltage range identical to the input range for loads up to 50 W. Operating with four-switch synchronous rectification, the IC provides seamless transitions between the buck and boost operating modes.

The topology and control architecture employs MOSFET-R_DS sensing for forward and reverse current limiting, yielding the high efficiency; a sense resistor may be used when increased accuracy is desired. Moreover, the LTC3785 incorporates burst mode operation, which reduces light load quiescent current to less than 100 μA. The operating frequency can be programmed from 100 kHz to 1 MHz with a single resistor. The LTC3785 is offered in a 4 mm x 4 mm QFN-24 package, with 1000-piece pricing at $3.56 each.