Tiny Package Houses Powerful 35-V, 3-A Boost DC-DC Converter

March 1, 2004

Don't be fooled by the small, 16-pin thin-shrink small-outline package (TSSOP) for the step-up LT3436 dc-dc converter. The device delivers a sizable punch—a 35-V output (within 2%) at 3 A. Its input voltage ranges from 3 to 25 V. Also, it can operate from single-cell lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries up to fixed 24-V rails. As a result, only 0.9 mA of current (6 µA of quiescent current in the shutdown mode) is required, suiting it for applications in battery-powered systems, distributed power, portable computers, and DSL modems.

The LT3436's constant 800-kHz switching frequency of 800 MHz allows designers to keep switching noise out of phase-sensitive circuitry, and it enables the use of tiny capacitors and inductors. The 3-A maximum switch current remains constant at all duty cycles. Switching frequency can be synchronized 1 to 1.4 MHz via an external logic signal.

An on-chip 0.1-Ω,3-A switch includes all of the control circuitry needed for this current-mode converter with a low-dropout (LDO) regulator. Current-mode operation provides both fast transient response and good loop stability. The converter is designed to operate from −40°C to 120°C.

The LT3436 is available from stock, with pricing starting at $2.75 each in 1000-piece quantities.

Linear Technology Corp.www.linear.com (408) 432-1900

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.