Fairchild Semiconductor International introduces an inductorless, 100mA DC-DC converter that has greater than 90% efficiency, making it ideally suitable for portable and system voltage conversions. Achieving over 90% efficiency at full load with a typical operating current of just 120ýA, the FAN5660 is one of the best-performing products of this type. Using only two low-cost capacitors, the charge-pump's 100mA output replaces switching regulators, eliminating inductors and their associated cost, size and EMI. The FAN5660 inverts a +1.5V to +5.5V input to a corresponding ý1.5V to ý5.5V output. Also, this new DC-DC converter can split or double a full load, +5.0V input voltage, of a power supply or battery, providing +2.25V in splitter mode and +9.5V in doubler mode. "The introduction of the FAN5660 supports our power management strategy of offering highly efficient power conversion solutions to our customers," said Tivadar Szabo, Manager of Ultra Portable Products in Fairchild's Power Management Group. "The FAN5660, with its high conversion efficiency at full load, optimizes battery life in portable and handheld applications." Equipped with an onboard oscillator circuit, the FAN5660 charge pump allows flexibility in selecting appropriate operating frequencies. The oscillator can operate at either low or high frequencies. When selecting the low, 5kHz operating frequency, a very low quiescent current will result. A smaller capacitor can be used at the higher, 50kHz operating frequency. The FAN5660 can operate in three modes: inverter, splitter or doubler. As an inverter, it converts the input voltage in a range of 1.5V to 5.5V to a corresponding negative value. In voltage splitter mode it splits the input voltage in half, and in voltage doubler mode, it doubles the input voltage. Because the FAN5660 does not require an external diode in voltage doubler mode, it occupies less PCB area in designs. The FAN5660 is provided in the space-saving 8-lead SOIC package. This product complements Fairchild's broad range of inductor-based switching regulators, giving designers more flexibility and choice in their DC-DC conversion designs.

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