Texas Instruments unveils industry’s smallest step-down power solution

BENGALURU: Texas Instruments has today introduced a pair of 12-V, 10-A, 4-MHz step-down power modules that provide a power management solution that is claimed to be 20 percent smaller than any other 10-A power module-based solution available.

The easy-to-use SWIFT TPSM84A21 and TPSM84A22 DC/DC modules integrate power MOSFETs, shielded inductors, input and output capacitors, and passives into a tiny, low profile footprint. In addition, it provides industry-leading performance, with as little as 1 percent overshoot in transient conditions without special magnetics or additional capacitors.

By using the step-down power module together with TI’s WEBENCH Power Designer, engineers can get their space-constrained point-of-load (POL) telecom, networking, and test and measurement power-supply designs to market faster. TI will demonstrate the TPSM84A22 module in its booth (No. 701) at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), March 27-29 in Tampa, Florida.

Unlike other 10-A step-down modules available today, the highly integrated TPSM84A21 and TPSM84A22 require just one external voltage-setting resistor for a complete 12-V step-down power solution. For an application, such as powering tightly regulated field-programmable gate array (FPGA) rails, a typical 10-A module would require up to 16 external capacitors. In comparison, the TPSM84A21 provides ultra-low output ripple due to the very high 4-MHz switching frequency and integrated 185 microfarads of output capacitance, which maintains regulation accuracy without any external capacitors.

TPSM84A21 and TPSM84A22 key features and benefits:

Tiny solution: A 9-mm by 15-mm module and a single external voltage-setting resistor make up a complete solution footprint of 11 mm by 15 mm.

Low profile: Measuring 2.3 mm in height, the small size, weight and bill of materials enable placement of the complete solution on the back side of a printed circuit board.

Best transient performance: 4-MHz switching enables ±1 percent overshoot without any external capacitors.

Easy to design: Integrated input and output capacitors eliminate the loop compensation and magnetics part selection from the design process. Use WEBENCH Power Designer to quickly create a complete 12-V, 10-A DC/DC step-down solution with just one voltage-setting resistor.

The TPSM84A21 with a voltage output of 0.55 V to 1.35 V and the TPSM84A22 with a voltage output of 1.2 V to 2.0 V are available in volume now through the TI storeand authorized distributors. Offered in a 20-pin quad flat micro (QFM) package, the modules are priced at US$8.63 in 1,000-unit quantities.