Thick-film hybrid technology for low output voltage DC/DC converter

The new requirements in portable and telecommunication equipment also affects the supply systems. The current tendency to reduce the output voltage (3.3, 2.7 V DC) together with the necessity of an important size reduction is modifying the strategies for DC/DC converter implementation. Low-voltage, high-power-density applications present two important factors that must be analysed: thermal problems due to high power density, and the high currents to be handled. This paper presents a 10-W DC/DC buck converter with passive integration using hybrid technology. As a result of the mentioned integration technique, a power density of 6.25 W/cm/sup 3/ was obtained with high efficiency (90% approx.).