Dual high-current buck converters and linear regulators for automotive applications

The LP873220-Q1, from Texas Instruments, is designed to meet the power management requirements of the latest processors and platforms in automotive camera and radar applications. The device has two step-down DC-DC converters, two linear regulators and general-purpose digital-output signals. The device is managed by an I2C-compatible serial interface and by an enable signal. The automatic PWM/PFM (AUTO mode) operation gives high efficiency over a wide output-current range. The device supports remote voltage sensing to compensate IR drop within the regulator output and the POL thus improving the accuracy of the output voltage. Also, the switching clock can be forced to PWM mode and also synchronised to an external clock to minimise the disturbances. The device also supports programmable start-up and shutdown delays and sequences including GPO signals synchronised to the enable signal. During start-up and voltage change, the device controls the output slew rate to minimise output voltage overshoot and the in-rush current.