Digital Power Controllers Address Energy Requirements

With an eye on energy-efficiency specifications such as Energy Star, the company’s first point-of-load digital power controllers combine digital loop control with integrated power-management capabilities to offer high efficiency over the entire range from light to full load. The FD2004, FD2004-01, and FD2006 digital power controllers and the FD1505 digital power support driver rely on the company’s Digital-DC power conversion architecture that enables a full-load efficiency improvement up to 3% and a light-load efficiency increase greater than 15% in typical applications while reducing peak power dissipation by as much as 20%. The controllers operate with an input voltage range from 3V to 14V to control output voltages from 0.54V to 5.5V. The FD2006 integrates a controller with 3A MOSFET drivers that support loads in excess of 40A with no external driver. The controller-only FD2004 can interface with external driver/MOSFETs and power train modules to provide power stage design flexibility. Like the FD2004, the FD2004-01 is also a controller-only device but with a dc-output voltage set point accuracy of ±0.2%. Prices for the controllers start at $2.95 each/1,000 and the FD1505 costs $0.71 each/1,000. FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR, San Jose, CA. (800) 341-0392.