Linear Technology announces MOSFET driver

Linear Technology has announced the LTC4446, a high-frequency, high-input supply voltage (100V) MOSFET driver to drive upper and lower N-Channel power MOSFETs in a two-transistor forward converter.

This driver, combined with power MOSFETs and one of Linear Technology's DC/DC controllers form a complete high-efficiency two-transistor forward converter or can be configured as a fast acting high-voltage DC switch.

This powerful driver can source up to 2.5A with a 1.2 ohm pull-down impedance for driving the top MOSFET and can source 3A with a 0.55 ohm pull-down impedance for the synchronous MOSFET, making it ideal for driving high-gate capacitance, high-current MOSFETs.

The LTC4446 can also drive multiple MOSFETs in parallel for higher-current applications.

The fast 8ns rise time, 5ns fall time of the top MOSFET, and 6ns rise time, 3ns fall time of the bottom MOSFET when driving a 1,000pF load minimise switching losses.

The LTC4446 is configured for two supply-independent inputs.

The high-side input logic signal is internally level-shifted to the bootstrap supply, which may function at up to 114V above ground.

Furthermore, this part drives both upper and lower MOSFET gates over a range of 7.2V to 13.5V.

The LTC4446EMS8 and LTC4446IMS8 are offered in a thermally enhanced MSOP-8 package.

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