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Intersil Releases Advanced 30-V Synchronous-Buck MOSFET Driver Targeted for Next-Generation Notebook PCs
-- Offers standard-buck diode emulation mode for enhanced light-load performance~-- 3 X 3 mm quad flat no-lead package delivers space savings and high thermal efficiency
MILPITAS, CA, April 14, 2004 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced the ISL6208, a new 30-V synchronous-buck MOSFET driver IC designed for high-current multiphase power solutions in notebook PCs. The ISL6208 enhanced MOSFET driver provides higher efficiency than conventional MOSFET drivers by employing a diode emulation mode during light-load conditions, enabling extended battery run time in portable PC applications.
This new driver is offered in a choice of either an 8-lead SOIC or a near-chip-scale 8-pad 3 X 3 mm quad flat no-lead (QFN) package that provides flexibility and space savings. In addition, the ISL6208 integrates a bootstrap diode and eliminates the need for a CPU protection Schottky diode, which reduces external component cost.
The ISL6208 is a very robust MOSFET driver IC that delivers a solid 4 Amps of drive to ensure optimal MOSFET switching and power efficiency, said Dean Henderson, Director of Intersils Notebook Power Products. This new IC packs high performance into a very tiny 3 X 3 QFN package, improving thermal and space efficiencies for CPU power regulation solutions in notebook and other portable PCs.
Light-load converter efficiency is enhanced markedly by the ISL6208s diode emulation feature. When diode emulation is enabled, the driver allows discontinuous conduction by detecting when the inductor current reaches zero and subsequently turns off the low-side MOSFET. This feature prevents the output from sinking current and avoids the generation of a negative transient, especially significant for power solutions that must power up into pre-biased loads.
Two or more ISL6208 drivers combined with one of Intersils PWM controllers provide a highly efficient multiphase voltage regulator solution with high-frequency switching capability. The ISL6208 includes an internal charge pump utilizing a Schottky bootstrap diode which enables the use of N-channel MOSFETs and reduces implementation cost and complexity. The driver provides adaptive shoot-through protection to prevent simultaneous conduction of both MOSFETs. High drive capability ensures crisp MOSFET switching, which prevents shoot through and improves conversion efficiency. Each driver is capable of a 3000-pF load with a low propagation delay and a less than 8-ns transition time.
The ISL6208 features 4-A typical sinking current for the lower gate driver. This hefty sink current is capable of holding the lower MOSFET gate off during the rising edge of the Phase node, which prevents shoot-through power loss caused by the high dv/dt rate of phase voltage swing. The operating voltage matches the 30-V breakdown voltage of the MOSFETs commonly used in mobile computer power supplies.
This advanced MOSFET driver also features a three-state PWM input that, working together with Intersils multiphase PWM controllers, will prevent a negative transient on the output voltage when the output is being shut down. This feature eliminates the Schottky diode that is typically used in a microprocessor power system to protect the microprocessor from reversed-output-voltage damage, further reducing the bill-of-materials cost versus competitors drivers.
ISL6208 Technical Summary
- High operating voltage of 30 V to match MOSFETs
- High switching frequency up to 2 MHz
- Diode emulation mode provides standard-buck operation to enhance light-load efficiency
- Adaptive shoot-through protection reduces switching losses
- 0.5 Ohm on resistance and 4 A sink current to hold lower MOSFET off
- Three-state PWM input used to prevent negative transient when output is shut down
- Pin-for-pin compatible with Intersils ISL6207 driver to enable effortless upgrade
- 8-lead SOIC or a near-chip-scale 8-pad 3 X 3 mm QFN package
The ISL6208 is available now. The suggested resale price for quantities of 100 to 999 units is $1.02 for the ISL6208CB (SOIC package) and $1.06 for the ISL6208CR (QFN package). About Intersil
Intersil Corporation, a NASDAQ 100 Index company, is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company’s products address three of the industry’s fastest growing markets: flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC-DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company’s web site and career page at www.intersil.com.
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