Linear Technology LTC3388 buck converter

Linear Technology has released the LTC3388, an ultra-low quiescent current synchronous buck converter that can deliver up to 50 mA of continuous output from a 2.7 to 20 V input. The no-load operating current of 720 nA makes it suitable for a wide range of battery-powered and low quiescent power applications including ‘keep-alive’, energy harvesting and industrial control power.

The converter uses hysteretic synchronous rectification to optimise efficiency over a wide range of load currents. It can offer over 90% efficiency for loads ranging from 15 µA to 50 mA and requires 720 nA of no load quiescent current in regulation.

The combination of a 3 x 3 mm DFN package (or MSOP-10) and five external components offers a simple and compact footprint for a wide array of low-power applications.

It incorporates an accurate undervoltage lock-out feature to disable the converter when the input voltage drops below 2.3, reducing quiescent current to 400 nA. Once in regulation (at no load), the device enters a sleep mode to minimise quiescent current at 720 nA.