Step-down DC-DC converter with built-in inductor

Torex Semiconductor Ltd has released the XCL232, a new inductor series with a built-in step-down DC-DC converter.

The XCL233 Series is a 150mA step-down synchronous rectification 'micro DC-DC' converter with an output voltage selectable function with an ultra-low power consumption circuit and PFM control. The VSET function is a function that switches between two output voltages by signal input. When this function is mounted on a low-power MCU with a wide operating voltage range, it delivers low voltage during standby and high voltage during operations such as sensor communication to efficiently drive devices. It dramatically extends the battery life of small appliances.

The efficiency performance at a light load current is greatly improved by implementing ultra-low power consumption circuits, which have 200nA consumption current, and PFM control method. In particular, the power consumption of an MCU and SoC is getting lower, and the efficiency of the output current range (several μA to 10μA) during sleep is important for battery life. The efficiency of traditional DC-DC converters is less than 20%, while the efficiency of the series has been significantly improved to more than 80%. Also, a low output voltage from 0.5V can be selected, making it excellent for low-voltage SoC.

Integrating control IC and coil makes it possible to attain ultra-compact, high efficiency from a light load, and low EMI by attaching two small ceramic capacitors externally, making it straightforward for customers to design. The series is suitable for IoT/mobile/wearable, and all devices that demand better life with small size and high-efficiency performance at a light load current are important.