Monolithic Regulators Migrate to Higher Voltages
Aug 1, 2007
Several new regulator chips are springing up to address higher-voltage and higher-power requirements for buck converters. Like their low-voltage counterparts, these monolithic regulators promise high efficiency and compact designs....
Regulators Embed Inductors to Save Space and Ease Use
Jul 1, 2007
Application requirements for compact, easy-to-use voltage regulators with better efficiency than LDOs is spurring the development of a new class of buck-converter ICs....
Power Chips With Magnetics Are Going Mainstream
Jul 1, 2007
Only a few years ago, the idea of co-packaging an inductor with a buck-converter die in a standard IC package was quite a novelty. But since Enpirion, a New Jersey-based startup, took that step in the spring of 2004, a few mainline semiconductor companies have followed suit....
Latest Step in DC-DC Integration Leaves Tinier Footprints on PCBs
May 9, 2007
In the quest to both shrink and integrate dc-dc converters for portable applications, chip makers are increasing the number of buck converters and low dropout regulators they can squeeze into a tiny surface-mount package. ...
Buck Converters Squeeze into Tiny QFNs
Sep 1, 2006
Using its multi-megahertz switching and co-packaged inductor technology, Enpirion has expanded its lineup of integrated buck converters with tiny footprints...
Multi-Megahertz Switching Gains Momentum
Apr 1, 2006
Cellular phones and other portable applications continue to demand that voltage regulator designs fit into ever-smaller footprints. To satisfy this requirement...
Point-of-Load Converters Grow More Versatile, Powerful
Aug 1, 2005
Like the bus converters discussed in last month's Analog Feedback, nonisolated point-of-load converters (POLs) are modular building blocks for intermediate...
Distributed Power Architectures Evolve and Reconfigure
May 1, 2004
The distributed power architectures used in communications and computing typically rely on board-mounted power converters to generate the voltages required...
Moving to Integrated Magnetics
May 1, 2004
The goal of higher power and current density in power supplies is being achieved largely in silicon. Improvements in power semiconductors are increasing...
A Search for Standards in Board-Mounted Power
Feb 1, 2004
Two power-supply vendors, SynQor and Tyco Electronics, recently formed an alliance to create and promote standards for board-mounted power converters....
Battery-Based Power Supply ICs Require Unique Characteristics
Feb 1, 2003
Battery-based applications require the power supply controller IC to need very few external components. Any that are used should be low-cost types, while the IC should be packaged in some form of small outline package to minimize size and weight....
Analog ICs Support High-Speed Memory Systems
May 1, 2002
Special power sources are necessary for double data rate memory, a new form of random access memory intended to keep pace with faster microprocessors....
Switchmode Controller ICs Cover Range of Applications
May 1, 2001
The processor is key to computer operation where power specifications continue to place more stringent requirements on their dc source. This applies to...
