MIKROE Buck 16 Click is a compact add-on board that contains a DC-DC power converter that steps down the voltage from its input to its output. This board features the TPS62912, a high-efficiency, low noise, and low ripple current-mode synchronous buck converter from Texas Instruments. The TPS62912 has an output-voltage error of less than 1%, which helps ensure tight output-voltage accuracy, operates at a fixed switching frequency of 2.2MHz or 1MHz, and allows synchronization to an external clock. This Click board™ is suitable for noise-sensitive applications that generally use an LDO for post-regulation, such as high-speed ADCs, clock and jitter cleaner, serializer, de-serializer, and radar applications.

Buck 16 Click is supported by a mikroSDK compliant library, which includes functions that simplify software development.

Buck 16 Click as its foundation uses the TPS62912, a low-noise, low-ripple synchronous buck converter with a fixed-frequency current-mode from Texas Instruments. This converter has a filtered internal reference that achieves a low-noise output similar to low-noise LDOs. Besides, it has an output-voltage error of less than 1%, which helps ensure tight output-voltage accuracy, and lower output voltage ripple achieved by using a switching frequency of either 2.2MHz or 1MHz. That’s why this Click board™ is suitable for noise-sensitive applications that generally use an LDO for post-regulation.

This Click board™ communicates with MCU using one GPIO pin in addition to a 3-wire SPI serial interface. The device-enable feature, routed to the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, optimizes power consumption and is used for power ON/OFF purposes (driver operation permission). Once the Click board™ is enabled, the operation mode is then set by the configuration of the CONF SEL (Smart Configuration) jumper by positioning the SMD jumper to an appropriate position marked as VIN or GND.

Besides, this pin is also used for device synchronization. Once an external clock signal, which must be within the clock synchronization frequency range set by the Smart Configuration jumper, is applied to this pin through an onboard header marked as SYNC, the device is enabled and reads the configuration of the Smart Configuration pin. When this signal changes from a clock to a static high, the device switches from an external clock to an internal clock.

With all that, this device also has a power-good output available on the onboard header labeled as PGOOD. The PGOOD pin goes into a high impedance state once the feedback pin voltage, obtained by the MCP4161 digital potentiometer and controlled by the DIGI POT switch, is above 95% of the nominal voltage and is driven low once the voltage falls below typically 90% of the nominal voltage. The power-good signal can be used to sequence multiple rails by connecting to the enable pin of other converters.

This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. It allows for both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to use the communication lines properly. Additionally, there is a possibility for the TPS62912 power supply selection via jumper labeled as VIN SEL to supply the TPS62912 from an external power supply terminal in the range from 3 to 17V or with VCC voltage levels from mikroBUS™ power rails. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

• Interface: GPIO, SPI
• Compatibility: mikroBUS™
• Dimensions: 57.15 x 25.4mm
• Input Voltage: 3.3V or 5V, External
• Supply Voltage VCC: Min. 3.3V, Max. 5V
• Supply Voltage VIN: Min. 3V, Max. 17V
• Maximum Output Current: 2A
• Operating Temperature Range: Min. -40°C, Typ. +25°C, Max. +125°C

• Schematic
• MCP4161 Datasheet
• TPS62912 Datasheet
• mikroSDK
• LibStock