Ultra-Small Step-Down Converters Deliver the Industry's Lowest Quiescent Current and Highest Peak Efficiency

San Jose, CA—System designers looking to create small and highly efficient 40V load dump-tolerant applications can now utilize the ultra-compact, pin-compatible MAX20075 and MAX20076 step-down converters from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 step-down converters offer the industry's lowest quiescent current (I_Q) and comes in an ultra-small size solution with integrated compensation. This enables minimal external components that can lead up to 50% savings in board space making them ideal products for always-on automotive applications.

Customers expect always-on applications to bring them experiences richer and more compelling than ever before. However, designers are challenged with having to balance delivering advanced features with meeting size constraints, power-saving features, and high efficiency.

The MAX20075 and MAX20076 in peak current mode draw the industry's lowest I_Q—just 3.5µA in the low power operating mode, which is key to meeting the stringent OEM I_Q consumption requirements of 100µA per module. The converters enable low noise operation via pin-controlled spread spectrum and fixed 2.1MHz operation to meet CISPR 25 Class 5 EMI compliance. Furthermore, added advantage of the 2.1MHz operation and internal compensation is that it lowers the solution size and the bill of materials (BOM) compared to a non-synchronous device that operates in the AM band. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 are available with a low minimum on-time mode operation, which allows the converters to support large input-to-output conversion ratios. For example, Vbatt input to Vout of < 3V at 2.1Mhz; this translates to not having to use a secondary supply, which reduces overall BOM cost by $0.30 to incorporate new functions into the design for greater flexibility. The MAX20075 and MAX20076 meet AEC-Q100, are available in a 3mm x 3mm TDFN package, and operate over the -40°C to +125°C temperature range.

Key Advantages

• Industry's Lowest Quiescent Current: Offers 3.5µA I_Q compared to traditional solutions that offer 15-30µA I_Q; flexibility for more budget dispersed throughout the system; ability to support faster start-up times, consume lower power, and feature low minimum on-time operation mode
• Highest Peak Efficiency: Delivers highest peak efficiency of 91% compared to competitive solutions
• Ultra-Small Solution Size: 12-pin TDFN and side-wettable TDFN packages (3mm × 3mm) with integrated compensation enables very few external components for 50% savings in board space
• EMI mitigation: Spread spectrum control and internally fixed at 2.1MHz assist with CISPR25 Class 5 EMI compliance; supports the increasing need for more processing power in ADAS applications

www.maximintegrated.com