NXP achieves ultra-low output voltage ripple with 6-MHz DC/DC converter

NXP Semiconductors today announced its state-of-the-art DC6M DC/DC switching regulator family featuring a very high 6-MHz frequency, an ultra-low output voltage ripple performance of 7 mV, and high efficiency up to 95 percent. The DC6M family supports up to 650 mA supply current in a very small wafer-level chip-scale package (WLCSP6), measuring only 1.36 x 0.96 x 0.47 mm. With an input voltage range from 2.3 to 5.5 V, the new DC/DC converters are ideally suited for battery-driven portable devices such as smartphones, as well as other consumer devices where reliable, efficient power management is essential and space is limited.

With a typical output voltage ripple of only 7 mV, the DC6M family (including the DC6M4, DC6M5 and DC6M6) minimizes disturbances to the output voltage signal caused by the switching mechanism, thus enabling a stable signal, enhancing energy efficiency, and overcoming a common limitation of most other DC/DC converters today. In addition, the high switching frequency of 6 MHz allows the usage of SMD inductors as small as 470 nH in a flat 0805 package size (available with heights as small as 0.8 mm), further reducing the space required in the design. To illustrate, a typical smartphone application area occupied by a step-down converter and its surrounding components can be reduced by 40 percent when using a 6-MHz DC/DC converter, instead of a 3-MHz alternative. Further, the DC6M buck converter supports the ability to disable the device, which reduces the quiescent current down to 0.2 µA.

"DC/DC switching regulators offer built-in efficiency advantages over other voltage regulators. Providing best-in-class performance in a very flat package, our DC6M step-down regulators open exciting new possibilities for engineers in designing sub-systems with higher efficiency, cleaner signals and much smaller footprint – whether they use the DC6M as a standalone or in combination with LDOs," said Frank Hildebrandt, international product marketing manager, standard linear product line, NXP Semiconductors.

The DC6M DC/DC switching regulators are the latest additions to NXP's high-quality DC power management products, including DC/DC converters, low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulators, and voltage references.

Key Features

The NXP DC6M4, DC6M5 and DC6M6 DC/DC step-down switching regulators provide the following features:

High 6 MHz switching frequency, which allows the usage of very small inductors (470 nH)
Availability in output currents of 425, 500 and 650 mA
Output signal with very low disturbances; output ripple typically at 7 mV
Very high efficiency of up to 95%; optimized for loads from 40 to 650 mA
Ability to disable the device, which reduces the quiescent current down to 0.2 µA
Input voltage range from 2.3 to 5.5 V, and an output voltage range from 1.2 to 2.85 V, supporting requirements of battery-driven portable devices
Very small WLCSP6 package (1.36 x 0.96 x 0.47 mm)
High power dissipation of 800 mW
Many additional options, including voltage switch; a forced PWM mode for Pulse Width Modulation (instead of automatic Pulse Frequency Modulation/PWM switch); or the SMIA standard (XSHUTDOWN/powergood) option