May 2, 2014 — Micrel Korea (CEO Young Joon Oh, www.micrel.com), a leading industry provider of high-performance analog and high-speed mixed-signal solutions including LAN, timing and communication solutions, announced the availability of the MIC23163/MIC23164, a 4MHz DC/DC converter delivering up to 2A performance in a compact 2mm x 2mm package. This switching regulator is capable of operating at up to 100% duty cycle and operates from 2.7V to 5.5V, enabling application across a wide range of uses including power amplifiers, SSDs (Solid State Drives), mobile computing devices, cellular modems, and other space-constrained Point-of-Load (PoL) applications. Leveraging Micrel's patented Flea FET™ technology and Hyperlight Load™ control architecture, this device delivers exceptional light-load and full-load efficiency and can operate up to 4MHz. It also provides ultra-fast load transient response, which minimizes output capacitance and reduces overall solution size and cost.

Brian Hedayati, Vice President of Marketing for High-Performance Linear and Power Solutions at Micrel, stated, "Through Micrel's patented FleaFET power MOSFET technology, which inherently features a low gate charge structure, we were able to implement innovative next-generation PoL products. This technology enables Micrel to maximize operating efficiency and frequency while reducing solution size and cost." He added, "The MIC23163/4 is designed to work with an ultra-compact 0.47µH inductor, enabling the entire solution to be implemented at less than 1mm in height. This makes it ideal for numerous new wearable electronic devices and applications where minimizing product thickness is critical."

The MIC23163/4 features very low 33µA quiescent current and achieves 85% efficiency at 1mA. Additionally, the MIC23163/4 delivers consistent switching frequency of approximately 4MHz even under high load, as well as peak efficiency of up to 93%. This extends system runtime for battery-powered devices, a primary concern for designers and consumers. Additional features of this device include analog enable input and Power Good output, as well as adjustable Soft-Start functionality. The MIC23164 also includes an internal switch that discharges the output capacitor when the device is shut down. These devices enable safe startup with pre-biased outputs and can operate over a range of -40ºC to +125ºC. The product is offered in a 10-pin 2.0mm × 2.0mm Thin DFN package.