News & Events
Intersil's PWM Controllers Integrate MOSFET Drivers and Eliminate the Need for a Current-Sensing Resistor

— Intersil's ISL6545 and ISL6545A Save Board Space by Eliminating External Components; Wide Voltage Output Range (0.6V to VIN) Allows Devices to be Used in a Broad Range of Applications

MILPITAS, CA, November 22, 2006 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced the ISL6545 and ISL6545A single-output PWM (pulse width modulation) controllers. These devices integrate the boot diode and current-sensing functions, reducing the number of external components required.

The ISL6545 and ISL6545A allow a lower BOM cost by integrating the boot diode, the overcurrent protection, and the MOSFET drivers onto a single chip. The overcurrent function protects the controllers from a shorted output by using the lower MOSFET’s on-resistance, rDS(ON), to monitor the current, enhancing the efficiency of the controllers and reducing cost by eliminating the current- sensing resistor.

"Intersil’s small form factor ISL6545 and ISL6545A provide maximum performance and reliability for today’s power applications,” said Philip Chesley, marketing manager of Intersil’s Desktop Power products group. “The wide input range (1.0V to 12V) of these devices provides design flexibility, while the wide voltage output range (0.6V to VIN) allows them to be used in a broad range of applications.”

Integration and Efficiency
The ISL6545 and ISL6545A make implementation of a complete control and protection scheme for a DC/DC step-down converter driving inexpensive N-channel MOSFETs in a synchronous buck topology simple. A fixed frequency oscillator (300kHz for ISL6545; 600KHz for ISL6545A) reduces design complexity while reducing typical application cost and increasing efficiency, allowing these devices to be used in small form factor applications.

These devices provide a single feedback loop and voltage-mode control with fast transient response. The output voltage can be precisely regulated to as low as 0.6V with a maximum tolerance of +1.0% over temperature and line voltage variations.

The error amplifier of the ISL6545 and ISL6545A feature a 20MHz gain bandwidth product and 9V/µs slew rate that enables high converter bandwidth for fast transient performance. The resulting PWM duty cycles range from 0% to 100%.

A fixed internal soft start, capable into a pre-biased load allows a controlled monotonic soft start.

Key Features

• Operates from +5V or +12V supply voltage (for bias)
  • 1.0V to 12V VIN input range
  • 0.6V to VIN output range
  • Integrated gate drivers use VCC (5V - 12V)
  • 0.6V internal reference; ±1.0% tolerance
• Simple single-loop control design
  • Voltage-mode PWM control
  • Drives N-Channel MOSFETs
• Fast transient response
  • High bandwidth error amplifier
  • Full 0% to 100% duty cycle
• Lossless, programmable overcurrent protection
  • Uses Lower MOSFET’s rDS(ON)
• Small converter size in 8 Ld SOIC or 10Ld 3mm x 3mm QFN package
  • 300kHz or 600kHz fixed frequency oscillator
  • Fixed internal soft-start, capable into a pre-biased load
  • Integrated boot diode
  • Enable/shutdown function on COMP/SD pin
  • Output current sourcing and sinking
• Pb-free plus anneal available (RoHS compliant)
• Near chip scale package size with 10Ld QFN option

Target Applications

• Power supplies for microprocessors or peripherals
  • PCs, embedded controllers, memory supplies
  • DSP and core communications processor supplies
• Subsystem power supplies
  • PCI, AGP; graphics cards; digital TV
  • SSTL-2 and DDR/DDR2/DDR3 SDRAM bus termination supply
• Cable modems, set top boxes, and DSL modems
• Industrial power supplies; general purpose supplies
• 5V or 12V-input DC/DC regulators
• Low-voltage distributed power supplies

About Intersil’s Power Management Portfolio
Intersil’s high-performance analog ICs provide innovative power management solutions for applications in the computing, communications, peripherals, display, networking, telecommunications, industrial, instrumentation and battery-powered products markets. Intersil is a leading supplier of PWM controller ICs with over two billion units shipped. Intersil offers a broad portfolio of power management ICs, including single and multiple output switching regulators, integrated FET DC/DC controllers, battery management ICs, hot plug controllers and power MOSFET drivers. To learn more, visit Intersil’s Power Management page at http://www.intersil.com/power.

Pricing and Availability
The ISL6545 and ISL6545A are available now in an 8-lead SOIC package and are priced at $1.00 each and in a 10-lead QFN package, priced at $1.51 each in 1,000-unit quantities. For more information on the ISL6545, visit http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL6545,0.html and for more information on the ISL6545A, visit http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL6545A,0.html.

A large selection of power products is supported by Intersil’s iSim™ online design tool. To explore these solutions, visit http://www.intersil.com/isim/.

Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of the ISL6545 and ISL6545A, visit Intersil’s photo room at: http://www.intersil.com/pressroom/photoarchives.asp. About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors. The Company's products address some of the industry's fastest growing markets such as flat panel displays, cell phones, handheld products and notebook computing. Intersil’s product families address both power management and analog signal processing functions. Intersil products include ICs for battery management; hot-swap and hot-plug controllers; linear regulators; supervisory ICs; switching DC/DC regulators; 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 radiation-hardened 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.

iSim is a trademark of Intersil Americas, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.