Boost converter offers power flexibility for battery-powered applications

Mouser now stocks the TPS61253A 4A boost converter from Texas Instruments. The device delivers a variety of features that enable the device to drive a multitude of portable power management applications, such as smartphones and USB charging ports, requiring fewer external components than other solutions. The converter features an input voltage range from 2.3V to 5.5V with a fixed output voltage of 5V and supports applications powered by Li-Ion batteries with a load current up to 1500mA. Integrated with a 35-milliohm low-side FET and 60-milliohm high-side FET, the device operates at a quasi-constant 3.8MHz frequency in PWM mode, and manages power load currents ranging from moderate to heavy. During PWM operation, the converter uses a quasi-constant, on-time, valley current-mode-control topology to achieve excellent line and load regulation. For flexibility in power load conditions, the device offers designers three selectable modes: Auto PFM, Forced PWM, and Ultrasonic. The Auto PFM mode enables high efficiency at a light load, whereas the forced PWM operation can make the switching frequency constant across the whole load range. To avoid acoustic noise, the ultrasonic mode keeps the switching frequency always higher than 25kHz at any load condition. Other features of the device include a built-in 600µs soft start time, a thermal shutdown and a hiccup mode that enables automatic recovery after output shortages.