Dual 4A regulator with input voltage range up to 20V

Linear Technology Corp. has announced a dual 4A or single 8A step-down μModule (power module) regulator in a compact 9mm x 11.25mm x 4.92mm BGA package. According to the company, the LTM4642 operates from a wide input voltage range of 2.375V to 20V and regulates two output voltages adjustable from 0.6V to 5.5V.

Each output is a synchronous buck converter operating at high efficiency. The operating efficiencies for delivering full current at a 1.8V load from input supplies of 12V, 5V and 3.3V are 88%, 91% and 93%, respectively.

The two 4A outputs can be current shared as a single 8A output with precision voltage regulation of ±1.5% over line and load variations and is guaranteed from -40°C to 125°C. The LTM4642's small footprint, high efficiency and dual-regulator design enables system designers to reduce PCB area or fit this point-of-load regulator into tight spaces on densely populated boards. Applications for the LTM4642 include industrial, robotic, medical, instrumentation and telecom systems.

The LTM4642 can be synchronised to a supplied clock with a frequency ranging from 600kHz to 1.4MHz. Output ripple voltage is reduced because of the device's 180° out-of-phase operation. Low package thermal impedance enables full load current up to 95°C ambient temperature with no airflow and 100°C with 200LFM when converting 12V to a 1V output.