60% reduction in capacitance in power supplies for GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, and processors at 28nm and below.

Linear Technology Corporation (CEO: Hong Sa-kwak) announced the introduction of the LTM4650-1A/LTM4650-1B, a scalable dual 25A or single 50A µModule (power module) regulator capable of delivering up to 300A to high power, low voltage 28nm and below GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs and microprocessors.

These digital devices have low core voltages, requiring highly accurate voltage regulation both in steady-state (DC) and during fast load current transients. The LTM4650-1A guarantees a total DC voltage accuracy of ±0.8% over reference, line, load, and temperature (-40°C to 125°C), while the LTM4650-1B guarantees a total DC voltage accuracy of ±1.5%.

Both devices can be optimized for a Total Error Band (TEB) of better than ±3%, including load step transients, using a minimum of ceramic capacitors to meet the core voltage window requirements of sub-28nm digital ICs.

Compared to competing power POL module regulators, the LTM4650-1A requires 60% less capacitance due to three key features:

First, ensuring ±0.8% total DC voltage accuracy allows for greater margin (less capacitance) for AC variations due to load transient response to meet the processor's core voltage tolerance window. Second, the device can be externally tuned (compensated) for optimal loop response to accommodate load transients with fewer output capacitors. Finally, the device operates with phase interleaving, which reduces input and output current ripple and thus the need for load capacitance.

The LTM4650-1 integrates a dual output DC/DC regulator, inductor, and MOSFETs into a 16mm x 16mm x 5.01mm BGA package. The LTM4650-1 regulates an output voltage from 0.6V to 1.8V from an input voltage of 4.5V to 15V. While delivering 50A, the device boasts efficiency of up to 92% at 5VIN/1.8VOUT and 86% at 12VIN/1.0VOUT.

The LTM4650-1 delivers up to 50A of current at 200LFM from 12VIN to 1.0VOUT at ambient temperatures up to 70℃. The LTM4650-1 can be operated in parallel to increase output current, with up to six devices being paralleled to provide up to 300A of output current.

The LTM4650-1 is pin-compatible with the lower-current LTM4630-1 (dual 18A or single 36A), allowing users to select the desired component based on the load current without changing the PCB layout.

The LTM4650-1 operates over the –40ºC to 125ºC temperature range and is priced starting at $46.75 each in 1,000-piece quantities.