Buck Converter Delivers 1.6 A per Channel

Oct 11, 2006 2:04 PM

Linear Technology announces the LT3506 and LT3506A, dual current mode PWM step-down dc-dc converters with two 2-A power switches packaged in a 16-lead 5-mm x 4-mm DFN package. Each channel is capable of delivering up to 1.6 A of output current. Their wide input range of 3.6 V to 25 V makes them ideal for regulating power from a wide variety of sources, including four cell batteries, 5-V and 12-V rails, unregulated wall transformers, lead-acid batteries and distributed power supplies. The LT3506 switches at 575 kHz, while the LT3506A switches at 1.1 MHz.

The LT3506 and LT3506A's low V_CE(SAT) (210 mV at 1 A) internal switches offer efficiencies of up to 88%. Low voltage outputs are easily attended due to an internal reference of 0.80 V. Each channel has independent shutdown and soft-start pins as well as independent power good indicators to ease power sequencing. The channels switch 180° out of phase. Internal cycle-by-cycle current limit provides protection against shorted outputs while soft-start eliminates input current surge during start up. The low current (<30 μA typical) shutdown provides easy power management in battery-powered systems.

The LT3506EDHD and LT3506AEDHD are both available from stock in a thermally enhanced 5-mm x 4-mm DFN-16 package. Pricing starts at $2.95 each for 1000-piece quantities.