DC/DC conversion for MCU core supply

Today’s automotive systems for powertrain application (electronic fuel injection), safety applications (electric power steering, radar system, braking ECU) and body applications are increasingly complex. To meet the processing demands designers are moving to ever more powerful multi-core processors running at 1.8 V or 0.9 V with a switching frequency of 0.4 – 1.8 MHz. While this brings numerous advantages, it also adds strain to ensuring a stable core supply voltage while minimizing on-chip thermals. One approach to solve this is to incorporate a simple discrete P-/N-channel MOSFET buck converter.