Designing efficient power stages inside compact systems has always been a balancing act. Engineers often trade off thermal performance, noise, and board space to meet voltage-rail requirements. Würth Elektronik’s latest additions to its MagI³C-VDMM family show how much integration can now fit into just a few millimetres of silicon and copper.
A Ready-Made Power Stage
The new 1 A, 2 A, and 3 A MicroModules are fully integrated DC-DC converters that take the uncertainty out of power-supply layout. Each package combines a switching regulator, controller, compensation network, MOSFETs, and a shielded inductor into a single 3.5 × 3.5 × 1.5 mm footprint. Engineers can drop them straight onto the board without spending time tuning compensation or managing EMI from discrete layouts.
The modules operate from 2.5 V to 5.5 V and can deliver outputs between 0.6 V and 4 V with efficiencies up to 96 percent. Their 4 µA quiescent current makes them suitable for always-on and battery-powered designs where every microamp matters.
Efficiency Without Complexity
One of the most useful features is the automatic switching between pulse-frequency and pulse-width modulation. This allows the converter to maintain low ripple under heavy loads while staying efficient when the system idles. Integrated protection against overcurrent, short circuit, undervoltage, and thermal stress further reduces design risk.
The addition of Power-GOOD and enable pins allows sequencing between multiple rails, while a dedicated sleep mode can shut the converter down completely to preserve power in standby states.
Applications That Benefit
Würth Elektronik positions these MicroModules for point-of-load regulation in industrial, medical, and test equipment. They’re also a strong fit for embedded platforms driving FPGAs, MCUs, or high-speed I/O where clean power rails are essential. With compliance to EN55032 Class B, the modules handle EMI requirements without additional filtering, which is often a time-consuming part of certification.
For engineers who want to move away from linear regulators or complex discrete switcher layouts, the MagI³C-VDMM family offers a clean drop-in route to high efficiency and small form factor design.
Learn more on www.we-online.com
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