Highly-integrated new 50A - or dual-25A - micro module regulator

A versatile new dual-25A or single-50A output step-down µModule regulator with onboard shielded inductors, MOSFETs and a dual DC-DC regulator IC housed in a small thermally-enhanced plastic package - the LTM4650 has been unveiled by Linear Technology. The device is offered in a 16mm x 16mm x 5.01mm BGA with a patented built-in heat sink. The heat sink, attached to the MOSFETs and inductors, rapidly moves heat from the interior of the package to the top, where the surface of the heat sink is exposed to air. Thermal dissipation is further improved with airflow, or a combination of airflow and attachment to an external heat sink. With no external heat sink, the LTM4650 delivers 50A from 12VIN to 0.9VOUT at up to 71C ambient temperature with 200LFM airflow or up to 77C with 400LFM. The LTM4650’s precision current-mode architecture allows four devices to multiphase current share, delivering up to 300A to loads such as ASICs, FPGAs and microcontrollers. DC-DC conversion efficiency is improved by using Linear Technology’s DC-DC regulator IC with strong gate drivers and low loss MOSFETs. Delivering 50A, 92% efficiency is recorded at 5VIN, 1.8VOUT and 86% at 12VIN, 1.0VOUT. With a differential remote sense amplifier to compensate for voltage drop due to circuit board trace impedance, the LTM4650 guarantees ±1.5% maximum total DC output voltage accuracy over line, load and temperature. The LTM4650 is rated for operation from -40C to 125C.