National Semiconductor unveils SIMPLE SWITCHER power module family

BANGALORE, INDIA: National Semiconductor Corp. has introduced the first three products in its SIMPLE SWITCHER® power module family.

The LMZ-series of power modules provide an innovative, integrated solution that will save design time and provide ease-of-use to help system designers get their products to market faster.

The power modules provide the efficiency of a synchronous switching regulator with the simplicity of a linear regulator, eliminating the external inductor and complex layout placement challenges typical of switching regulator designs. Other devices in the SIMPLE SWITCHER power module family will launch throughout 2010.

National’s power modules simplify power supply design for field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and other point of load (POL) conversions for medical, broadcast video, communications, industrial and military applications.

Its patent-pending packaging technology provides low radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI), enabling National’s power modules to meet the requirements of the EN55022 (CISPR22) Class B radiated emission standard. The modules’ efficient heat dissipation and large exposed-bottom pad allows for operation in high-ambient temperatures without the need for airflow. They typically operate as much as 10 degrees cooler than comparable modules.

Additionally, the power modules’ single exposed-bottom pad allows for easy and quick prototyping on lab benches, eliminating the possibility of non-visual solder bridging. The size and lead pitch of these modules enable the use of the same pick-and-place manufacturing employed with standard TO-263 packages. Each module is pin-to-pin compatible with other family members, allowing designers to create one layout to facilitate last-minute drop-in replacements if load current requirements change.

Power supply designers can design with SIMPLE SWITCHER power modules using National’s award-winning WEBENCH® Power Designer, as well as the new WEBENCH Power Architect design tool. The enhanced WEBENCH Power Architect enables engineers to rapidly create multi-output DC-DC power supplies for an entire system.

SIMPLE SWITCHER power modules

National’s SIMPLE SWITCHER power modules provide -40 degrees C to 125 degrees C operation, along with low output voltage ripple and a wide voltage and current range that enable a complete customer-specific power supply solution.

The first release of the LMZ power modules supports the common 3.3V, 5V, 12V and 24V input voltage rails and offers load currents up to 4A. Available in 7-lead, 10.16 mm by 13.77 mm by 4.57 mm packages, the LMZ-series feature best-in-class thermal resistance (theta-JA) temperature of 20 degrees C per watt.

The LMZ10504 supports maximum load currents of 4A with an input voltage range of 2.95V to 5.5V.

The LMZ12003 supports maximum load currents of 3A with an input voltage range of 4.5V to 20V.

The LMZ14203 supports maximum load currents of 3A with an input voltage range of 6V to 42V.

Available now, the LMZ10504 is priced at $7.10 each, the LMZ12003 is $7.25 each, and the LMZ14203 is $9.50 each, respectively, in 500-unit quantities.