Maxim dc/dc converter achieves 96 percent efficiency

The MAX1536 step-down dc/dc converter IC from Maxim Integrated Products Inc. operates from 5V to 3.3V and produces an adjustable output down to 0.7V with efficiencies as high as 96 percent, making it suitable for low-voltage conversion applications in notebooks and desktop PCs.

Available in a 28-pin TQFN package, the device features an internal PMOS power switch and synchronous rectification to achieve high efficiency and reduce component count. The internal 54 milliohm PMOS power switch and 47 milliohm NMOS synchronous-rectifier easily deliver continuous load currents up to 3.6A.

The MAX1536 features a programmable constant-off-time architecture that allows for a wide range of switching frequencies up to 1.4MHz. It also features a digital soft-start function to limit surge current during startup, a 100 percent duty-cycle mode for low-dropout operation, and a low-power shutdown mode to disconnect the input from the output and reduce supply current to <1?A.