Enpirion Inc. (Enpirion) has introduced a new ultra-small 3A synchronous buck dc-dc converter, EN5337QI. The new EN5337QI with an integrated inductor offers a radical increase in power density over competing solutions. The new EN5337QI is a power supply on a chip (PwrSoC) in a small 28 mm2 package, less than half the size of the company’s previous 3A solutions, and one-third the size of competitor’s offerings.
The new EN5337QI has a power density of 149 W/in2 (23 W/cm2), through which it sets a new standard for low-power switching regulators.
“Designers are being challenged to pack more functionality into smaller PCB form factors, while improving overall system power efficiency,” said Ashraf Lotfi, Enpirion’s founder and chief technology officer. “To address these challenges, designers need power solutions like the EN5337 that can deliver high-efficiency power in a very small form factor.”
The 3A power converters are typically suited for high-volume, mass-market electronics like DTV, audio, computing, multi-function printers, set-top boxes/DVRs, and storage. The new EN5337QI is an excellent choice for the product designs that are space-constrained, noise-sensitive, and need high efficiency and simple, reusable power solutions.
Key features of new EN5337QI include:
3A continuous output current capability;
Broad input voltage range of 2.375 V to 5.5 V;
92% peak efficiency;
Low voltage ripple and noise;
5MHz operating frequency, allowing small input and output capacitors;
The switching frequency can be phase locked to an external clock to abolish or move unwanted beat frequencies out of band;
The protection features, including over-current protection, thermal shutdown and the under-voltage lockout circuit.
As with all of the company’s products, the 3A part was developed using an advanced circuit technique, ultra-high switching frequency, and a new integrated-inductor technology. The result is a highly-efficient, low-noise power solution that has very few parts and is extremely easy for the developers to use, attributes that the company has become well-known for in the industry.
“Enpirion has the technology edge, the flexibility, and the commitment to market solutions with smaller footprint, lower parts count, and higher speed at competitive BOM cost,” according to a report by the Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA). “They are leading the industry at providing PwrSoC product. Enpirion has a definite technology-leading edge in designing and developing PwrSoCs, as well as in inductor technology.”