Intersil Launches New Synchronous Dual Buck Regulator
New ISL8022, ISL8033/A, ISL8036/A enabling ultra-compact power management solutions

Intersil, a global leader in the design and production of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, announced today that it has expanded its dual-output integrated FET buck regulator family by introducing three new products that provide up to 95% power conversion efficiency and greater flexibility for designers.

The new ISL8022, ISL8033/A, and ISL8036/A have a standby current as low as 40uA and support input voltages in the range of 2.85V to 6V, making them ideal for single Li+ cells, three NiMH cells, or 3V/5V DC input voltage applications.

The ISL8033/A and ISL8036/A are dual-output step-down DC/DC regulators that provide a continuous output current of up to 3A per channel. The ISL8022 offers similar capabilities for lower-current applications, providing a continuous output current of up to 2A/1.7A across two channels. All three products feature a fixed-frequency control structure enabling peak current mode and very low duty cycle operation, excellent loop stability, and fast load transient response. The fast load transient response reduces the required output capacitance, enabling a smaller overall solution size compared to conventional voltage-mode control structures. The two channels within the ISL8033/A, ISL8036/A, and ISL8022 utilize 180-degree phase inversion to reduce input ripple current and filter requirements, while internal loop compensation further reduces the number of external components and costs.

ISL8033 and ISL8036 provide a fixed switching frequency of 1 MHz, but ISL8033A and ISL8036A switch at 2.5 MHz, which significantly reduces the overall size of the DC/DC converter. In addition, the ISL8033 and ISL8036 can be synchronized to an external clock up to 6 MHz, reducing the overall solution size and eliminating bit frequency in multi-switcher designs. Independent enable and PGOOD pins for both channels provide complete startup control and output monitoring, eliminating the need for a separate sequencer and voltage monitor.

In addition to independent 3A sourcing, both channels of the ISL8036/A can be connected in parallel in current-sharing mode to generate a single 6A output for higher-power applications. The ISL8033/A provides users with the flexibility to program transient current trip thresholds, allowing the IC to be configured for 3A/2A or 2A/2A to support various load profiles. The internal power MOSFETs are optimized to support output voltages as low as 0.8V while providing high efficiency.

The ISL8022 offers selectable forced PWM mode or automatic PWM/PFM mode to optimize battery life for portable applications. The ISL8022's low 40uA standby current makes it ideal for battery operation and 'eco-friendly' applications.

The ISL8022 operates at a fixed switching frequency of 2.25 MHz, allowing designers to use cost-effective small inductors and capacitors. Additionally, similar to the ISL8033/36, the ISL8022 can be synchronized to an external clock up to 8 MHz, reducing the overall solution size and eliminating beat frequency in multi-switcher designs. The internal power MOSFETs are optimized to provide high efficiency while delivering an output voltage as low as 0.6 V.

Price and Availability
ISL8022 is a space