Inverting DC/DC converters reduce size, heat, and cost

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. has claimed the MAX17577 and MAX17578 as the industry’s smallest and highest-efficiency synchronous inverting DC/DC step-down converters. As the company’s first 60-V inverting DC/DC converters with integrated level shifters, these devices save up to 72 percent of board space by reducing component count by half while using 35 percent less energy than the closest competitive solutions, according to the company.

Developed to meet growing requirements for smaller solution size and lower heat generation in intelligent IoT devices in factory automation, building automation, and communications systems, the MAX17577 and MAX17578 integrate level shifting circuitry to reduce component cost and count by as much as 50 percent while reducing component area to 60 mm², which is a 72 percent advantage in board space over competitive solutions, said Maxim.

In addition, the synchronous inverting converters protect against input voltage transients with a wide input voltage range from 4.5 V to 60 V. They also generate less heat by dissipating 35 percent less power compared to competitive solutions, while providing up to six percentage points of higher efficiency.

The MAX17577 and MAX17578 are available at Maxim Integrated’s website for $1.63 (1000-up, FOB USA). They also are available via Maxim’s authorized distributors. Both the MAX17577EVKIT# and MAX17578EVKIT# evaluation kits are priced at $29.73. EE-Sim models are available.