Synchronous Buck Regulators offer greater than 97% efficiency.
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Press Release Summary:
Featuring integrated high-side and low-side FETs, Models LM21212-1 and LM21215 are suited for FPGAs, ASICs, and microprocessors used in low-voltage applications. Model LM21212-1 features output current up to 12 A with synchronizable switching frequency, while Model LM21215 provides resistor-programmable current limit, allowing up to 15 A of continuous output current. Housed in 4.4 x 6.5 x 0.9 mm packages, both operate over input voltage of 2.95-5.5 V and produce output voltage down to 0.6 V.
Original Press Release:
National Semiconductor Introduces Industry's Highest-Efficiency, High-Current Buck Regulators
12A and 15A Buck Regulators Deliver Greater Than 97 Percent Efficiency for High-Performance FPGAs, ASICs and Microprocessors
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) today introduced a pair of high-current, synchronous buck regulators with the industry's highest efficiency at 97 percent. The LM21212-1 and LM21215 are well-suited for high-performance FPGAs, ASICs and microprocessors used in a variety of low-voltage applications including wireless, networking and optical communications infrastructure.
Watch a video on the products at bit.ly/LM21212-1video. Use National's WEBENCH® Power Designer or WEBENCH® FPGA Power Architect to create a design with these products in minutes.
National will showcase the LM21212-1 and LM21215 at the Applied Power Electronics Conference and Expo (APEC) in Fort Worth, Texas, March 6-10. APEC is one of the industry's leading conferences for practicing power electronics professionals.
Members of National's PowerWise® energy-efficient product family, the LM21212-1 and LM21215 high-current buck regulators feature integrated high-side and low-side FETs, which simplify design and reduce solution size. The LM21212-1 features an output current up to 12 amps with synchronizable switching frequency and the LM21215 provides a resistor-programmable current limit, allowing up to 15 amps of continuous output current, offering the industry's best power density. Both products provide peak efficiency greater than 97 percent from a 5V input to 3.3V output, and greater than 92 percent efficiency when regulating a 1.2V output from a 5V input.
Under typical operating conditions such as 5 Vin, 1.2 Vout, 10A, 500 kHz and 25 degrees C ambient, the regulators provide a three percent to five percent efficiency improvement and up to 10 degrees C cooler case temperature than similar products on the market today.
Technical Features of National's New Synchronous Buck Regulators
The LM21212-1 and LM21215 are monolithic synchronous buck regulators offered in a small 4.4 mm by 6.5 mm by 0.9 mm package. The LM21212-1 is capable of delivering up to 12A of continuous output current with a switching frequency that can be synchronized to an external oscillator between 300 kHz and 1.5 MHz. The LM21215 features a fixed 500 kHz switching frequency and is capable of delivering up to 15A.
The regulators are optimized to work over an input voltage range of 2.95V to 5.5V and produce an output voltage down to 0.6V with superior efficiency. The voltage-mode control loop provides high noise immunity and narrow duty cycle and can be compensated to be stable with any type of output capacitor for maximum flexibility and ease-of-use. A programmable over-current protection feature allows a user to specify the peak current level. An internal over voltage protection circuit provides increased system reliability, while a precision enable pin and integrated UVLO allow turn-on of the device to be tightly controlled and sequenced.
Start-up inrush currents are limited by both an internally fixed and externally adjustable soft-start circuit. Both regulators provide a monotonic startup into a pre-biased load, preventing the devices from sinking current until the internal soft-start ramp exceeds the voltage at the feedback pin. Fault detection and supply sequencing are also possible with the integrated power good circuit. The regulators are designed to work well in multi-rail power supply architectures, as the output voltage can be configured to track a higher voltage rail using the SS/TRK pin.
For more information on the LM21212-1 or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit www.national.com/pf/LM/LM21212-1.html. For more information on the LM21215 or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit www.national.com/pf/LM/LM21215.html.
About National's WEBENCH Designer Tools
National's WEBENCH Designer tools combine powerful software algorithms with a user-friendly visual interface to help design engineers create a power, lighting or sensing circuit or system design in seconds. Cost-free and offered in six languages, WEBENCH Designer has helped over 1.5 million designers since 1999 tackle complex electronic designs. Try it at www.national.com/webench.
Pricing and Availability
National's new buck regulators are available now and offered in 20-pin thermally-enhanced TSSOP packages. Priced in quantities of 1,000, the LM21212-1 is $3.85 and the LM21215 is $4.15. A version of the LM21212-1 with adjustable switching frequency will be available in March 2011.
More information about National's power management products is available at www.national.com/analog/power.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is a leader in power management technology. Known for its easy-to-use analog integrated circuits and world-class supply chain, National's high-performance analog products enable its customers' systems to be more energy efficient. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.42 billion for fiscal 2010. Additional information is available at www.national.com.
National Semiconductor and WEBENCH are registered trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Gayle Bullock
National Semiconductor Public Relations
3689 Kifer Road, M/S G1-124
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Tel: (408) 721-2033
Cell: (408) 464-2516
Fax: (408) 721-3238
Email: gayle.bullock@nsc.com
