National Semiconductor’s New High-Voltage, Step-Down Controller Family Boasts Industry-Leading Feature Set

National Semiconductor’s New High-Voltage, Step-Down Controller Family Boasts Industry-Leading Feature Set

Energy-Efficient PowerWise Products Deliver Input Voltage Range up to 75V, High-Performance Regulation, Reduced EMI

December 15, 2008 – National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) today introduced four new high-voltage, non-synchronous buck controllers that include a comprehensive feature set of high input voltage range, high-performance pulse width modulation (PWM) control and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Well-suited for a variety of telecom and networking infrastructure applications, the highly integrated, easy-to-use buck controllers power sensitive, low-voltage circuitry from high input voltages. The new controllers feature 85 percent peak efficiency when powering low voltage loads from a high voltage supply, positioning them among National’s PowerWise family of energy-efficient products.

The LM5085, LM25085, LM5088 and LM25088 buck controllers feature an input voltage range up to 75V and can regulate output voltages as low as 1.2V at load currents in excess of 5A. Each offers programmable switching frequency up to 1 MHz using a single resistor, enabling the designer to optimize the design based on varying size and efficiency constraints. The LM5085 and LM5088 operate from input voltages up to 75V, and the LM25085 and LM25088 have a maximum input voltage of 42V.

Technical Features of National’s New High-Voltage, Non-Synchronous Buck Controllers

Offered in a 16-pin TSSOP package, the LM5088 and LM25088 are full-featured, low-noise controllers for high-voltage step-down applications. The N-channel MOSFET controllers feature an emulated current-mode (ECM) control PWM control topology to reliably regulate very low output voltages (as low as 1.2V) when operating from high input voltages. In addition, the controllers simplify the power supply design process by offering a unique frequency dithering feature that varies the switching frequency by ±5 percent around the nominal switching frequency, reducing EMI peak amplitude by 10 dB or more in typical applications. Synchronization to an external clock further controls system EMI.

The LM5088 and LM25088 can operate as a slave to an external master supply for applications requiring multiple supply rails that track each other during the start-up and power-down periods. Protection options include programmable cycle-by-cycle current limiting for transient overload conditions and a hiccup mode for reduced power dissipation during continuous load faults.

For more information on the LM5088 and LM25088 or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM5088.html and http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM25088.html.

Offered in 8-pin mini SOIC and LLP packages, the LM5085 and LM25085 are tiny P-channel MOSFET controllers that support a wide range of high-voltage step-down applications. A constant on-time (COT) control method provides ultra-fast load transient response with no loop compensation required, minimizing the number of external components and simplifying the design. To ease EMI filtering, an input feed-forward scheme maintains nearly constant switching frequency over line and load variations. An integrated P-channel MOSFET driver minimizes external components and enables 100 percent duty cycle operation, allowing the output to remain in regulation under conditions where the input voltage is only slightly higher than the output voltage.

For more information on the LM5085 and LM25085 or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM5085.html and http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM25085.html.

About National’s Power Management Products

National solves power management design problems in space- and energy-constrained applications from feature-rich handheld devices through large line-powered systems. From the novice power designer to the power expert, National’s products, people and design tools enable customers to design green-powered systems with complex power supplies in the shortest amount of time. High-performance products include switching regulators such as National’s flagship SIMPLE SWITCHER family and application-specific products including white-LED drivers and Power-over-Ethernet controllers. More information about National’s power management products is available at http://www.national.com/power.

Availability and Pricing

Available now, the four new buck controllers range in price from $0.85 to $1.60 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of these products, visit National’s photo gallery at http://www.national.com/company/pressroom/gallery/power.html.

About National Semiconductor

National Semiconductor creates energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Its PowerWise products enable systems that consume less power, extend battery life and generate less heat. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.89 billion for fiscal 2008 which ended May 25, 2008. Additional company and product information is available at www.national.com. ■