Ricardo Capetillo
National Semiconductor

When system design engineers are in search of power for mixed-signal electronics, they must satisfy performance, cost, efficiency, and space requirements. Electronic equipment such as rack mount servers, communication equipment, laptops, and many consumer electronic goods must conserve space in order to maintain the product's form factor.

This paper illustrates how the proper features can help satisfy system specifications and enhance the performance of the power supply and the load. The following key features will be presented: adjustable switching frequency, feedback voltage accuracy, startup tracking, power sequencing, pre-biased startup, utilizing an external reference, and synchronizing to an external clock. When optimized, these features can reduce EMI, transient response times, transient voltage amplitudes, solution size, output capacitance requirements, and overall BOM costs.