Dual high-current buck converter meets power management needs in automotive applications

Texas Instruments’ LP87332B-Q1 has been designed to meet the power management requirements in automotive applications. This device contains two step-down DC-DC converters and two linear regulators and general-purpose digital-output signals. It is controlled by an I2C-compatible serial interface and by an enable signal. The device’s automatic PWM/PFM (AUTO mode) operation gives high efficiency over a wide output-current range. The convert supports remote voltage sensing to compensate IR drop between the regulator output and the POL thus improving the accuracy of the output voltage. In addition, the switching clock can be forced to PWM mode and also synchronised to an external clock to minimise the disturbances. The device supports programmable start-up and shutdown delays and sequences including GPO signals synchronised to the enable signal. During start-up and voltage change, the converter controls the output slew rate to minimise output voltage overshoot and the in-rush current.