Highly integrated power modules eliminate input and output capacitors

Texas Instruments has introduced a pair of 12V, 10A, 4MHz step-down power modules that provide a power management solution that is 20 percent smaller than any other 10A power module-based solution available today. The easy-to-use SWIFT TPSM84A21 and TPSM84A22 DC-DC modules integrate power MOSFETs, shielded inductors, input and output capacitors, and passives into a tiny, low profile footprint. In addition, it provides industry-leading performance, with as little as 1% overshoot in transient conditions without special magnetics or additional capacitors. By using the step-down power module together with their WEBENCH Power Designer, engineers can get their space-constrained POL telecom, networking, and test and measurement power-supply designs to market faster. Unlike other 10A step-down modules available today, the highly integrated devices require just one external voltage-setting resistor for a complete 12V step-down power solution. For an application such as powering tightly regulated FPGA rails, a typical 10A module would require up to 16 external capacitors. In comparison, the TPSM84A21 provides ultra-low output ripple due to the very high 4MHz switching frequency and integrated 185 microfarads of output capacitance, which maintains regulation accuracy without any external capacitors.