Power Supply Products

Highly-Integrated Power Supply Controller from Texas Instruments is First for Future 64-Bit Merced Processor

Power Management:
Design Challenges and Solutions

News Releases

Publications:
Details on Signal Processing
Integration Magazine
Mixed Signal Showcase

Trade Shows

Search the News Archives

DALLAS (Oct. 5, 1998) -- A synchronous-buck power supply controller from Texas Instruments (TI) can control regulator circuits for high performance processors above 30 Amps of output current and enable more than 90 percent efficiency. This highly integrated device uses a hysteretic controller to deliver superior transient response. It also delivers extremely high levels of initial setpoint accuracy -- ±1 percent over the full operating temperature range. With today's announcement, Texas Instruments is first-to-market with a power supply controller designed specifically to meet the demands of the next-generation Merced microprocessor.

"The lower voltages and higher currents of today's Pentium-class processors and future 64-bit Merced processors demand a new generation of power supply controllers," said Les Hodson, System Engineering Manager for TI's Power Management Products. "Our controller, designated the TPS5210, meets the need for high output current and fast transient response while consuming only 120 milliWatts of power. This makes it ideal for leading-edge PC motherboard designs."

Hysteretic Controller Enables Breakneck Transient Response

When output current increases at high rates such as 30 Amps per microsecond, the TPS5210 can recover to the original output value in under 2 microseconds. However, the TPS5210 is "instantaneously in regulation" as the result of an integrated hysteretic control scheme. It works as follows. The designer selects an acceptable window around the reference voltage and programs the TPS5210 using a resistor. The device then compares the output voltage to the programmed window, turning the high-side FET on and off to maintain Vout within the window. Propagation delay from the comparator inputs to the output drives is less than 250 nanoseconds. The user-selectable hysteretic controller and droop compensation in the TPS5210 dramatically reduce overshoot and undershoot caused by load transients.

Highest Integration Currently Available

The TPS5210 features include:

• hysteretic controller
• 2 Amp synchronous-buck drivers
• 30V-rated bootstrapped high-side driver
• internal drive regulator
• integrated Schottky bootstrap diode
• active deadtime control
• adjustable droop compensation
• noise immunity circuitry
• programmable soft-start
• lossless current sensing
• adjustable current limit
• overvoltage protection
• Vcc undervoltage lockout
• inhibit comparator
• power-good output

The device has a programmable output voltage range of 1.3V to 3.5V, determined by a 5-bit integrated DAC. This level of integration reduces component count and produces a printed circuit board footprint that is 50 percent smaller than a comparable discrete solution. In addition, a dc-to-dc converter solution based on the TPS5210 can be realized for less than $9.00.

Pricing and Availability

The TPS5210 is available now from TI and its authorized distributors. Suggested resale pricing is $2.25 when purchased in quantities of 10,000. It is available in a 28-pin SOIC package and a 28-pin PowerPAD™ package. This package has an exposed thermal pad that can be soldered directly to the printed circuit board to provide extra heatsinking. It has a very small footprint and is compatible with standard automated surface mount assembly processes.

In addition, an evaluation module for the TPS5210 is also available now.

More information about the TPS5210 and TI's power supply products is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com/sc/power

Trademark:
PowerPAD is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.