STMicroelectronics Announces Single-Chip Step-Down DC/DC Converter with 3A Capability for Home Appliances and Industrial Equipment

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM, hereafter ST) announced the "DCP3603", a monolithic step-down DC/DC converter with a 3A supply capability in a small 3 x 1.6mm footprint. This product contributes to simplified design, reduced board area, shorter development time, and improved system reliability. With a wide input voltage range of 3.3V to 36V, it can be used in applications such as smart meters, home appliances, and industrial 24V systems.

Adopting synchronous rectification and capable of selecting a fixed switching frequency of 1MHz or 500kHz, the DCP3603 maintains high efficiency across the entire load range, achieving 93% conversion efficiency at a 600mA load (Input 12V / Output 5V). With built-in power switches and compensation functions, only an inductor, bootstrap circuit, filter capacitor, and feedback resistors are required as additional components to complete the circuit, minimizing the component count.

Two variations of the DCP3603 are available: one with a forced PWM mode setting that delivers optimal performance even in noise-sensitive applications, and another with a pulse-skipping mode setting that minimizes power consumption under light loads. You can choose based on your application. Both products feature frequency dithering to reduce noise power generated at the switching frequency, and an extremely low quiescent current of 85µA to minimize overall power consumption. Further power saving is possible by turning off the converter using the enable pin.

New designs incorporating the DCP3603 can be rapidly evaluated using the dedicated evaluation board, "STEVAL-3603BC1". This evaluation board is compact and can be easily connected via screw terminals and headers, allowing for immediate operational verification.

The DCP3603 is currently in mass production and is offered in a 6-lead SOT23 package. The unit price is approximately $0.44 per unit when purchased in quantities of 1000.

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