Power management supplier Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc. has announced a new family of switching regulators designed for low-noise operation. Based on a patent-pending, innovative new architecture, the AAT2120 and AAT2158 synchronous step-down converters deliver significantly lower spectral noise and output ripple than competing switching regulators, according to the manufacturer. These low-noise switching regulators represent the first of several generations of new switching regulator topologies now under development at AATI, targeting high-performance and high-efficiency applications, said Advanced Analogic..

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At lower currents, the AAT2120 and AAT2158 switching regulators produce half the ringing amplitude of competing switching regulators. This characteristic translates directly into lower noise being injected into the system. In system tests, spurious energy injected by the switching regulators was reduced by 3 dB. At higher currents, the two new converters produce approximately 25% less output ripple. By reducing injected noise and output ripple, these two new devices can improve the dynamic range performance of RF systems when compared to RF systems powered by traditional switching regulator.

Concurrently, the two regulators offer all the traditional power efficiency advantages of traditional switching regulators. Power efficiency for the AAT2120 and AAT2158 reach up to 96% and 95%, respectively. Moreover, by operating at high switching frequencies, both devices minimize the size of external components.

The AAT2120 supplies up to 500 mA output current, while the AAT2158 delivers up to 1.5 A output for applications requiring higher levels of power. Both devices operate from an input range of 2.7 to 5.5 V and support output voltages as low as 0.6 V.

For protection purposes, both step-down converters offer internal soft-start, over-temperature and current limit protection. The new converters also extend system run time by adding 100 % duty cycle low-dropout operation. Qualified across the -40 ºC to +85 ºC temperature range, the AAT2120 is available in a Pb-free, 8-pin 2 x 2-mm STDFN package. It sells for $0.85 in 1000 piece quantities. Likewise, the AAT2158 is also qualified across the -40 ºC to +85 ºC temperature range and comes in a Pb-free, 16-pin 3 x 3-mm QFN package. It costs $1.55 each in 1000-piece quantities. Additional members offering 400 mA and dual 600 mA are planned for the first quarter of 2008.