The TPSM53604RDAR is a highly integrated step-down power module from Texas Instruments that combines a 36-V input, 4-A synchronous DC/DC converter with power MOSFETs, a shielded inductor, and passive components in a single thermally enhanced QFN package. Measuring just 5.0 mm × 5.5 mm × 4.0 mm, this module delivers up to 20 W of output power at 85°C without airflow, making it one of the industry's smallest 36-V, 4-A power solutions. By eliminating the need for external inductor selection, loop compensation, and magnetics design, the TPSM53604RDAR simplifies power supply development for industrial, test and measurement, aerospace, and defense applications.

Enhanced HotRod™ QFN Packaging

The TPSM53604RDAR utilizes Texas Instruments' Enhanced HotRod™ QFN technology, a packaging innovation that improves thermal performance while reducing footprint and electromagnetic interference. The 15-pin B3QFN package features a single large thermal pad and a pinout with all pins accessible from the perimeter, enabling straightforward single-sided PCB layout and easy manufacturing handling.

The package's thermal design allows the module to dissipate heat efficiently through the PCB, supporting the full 4-A output current across the –40°C to +105°C ambient temperature range. This thermal capability is validated through shock and vibration testing to Mil-STD-883D standards, confirming suitability for harsh-environment applications.

Wide Input and Output Voltage Range

The TPSM53604RDAR accepts an input voltage range of 3.8 V to 36 V, accommodating a broad spectrum of power sources including 5-V, 12-V, 24-V, and 28-V industrial buses. The output voltage is adjustable from 1 V to 7 V, providing flexibility for powering digital cores, analog rails, and interface circuitry.

The module achieves efficiency up to 95%, minimizing power dissipation and simplifying thermal management. The integrated shielded inductor contributes to the module's low EMI signature, which meets CISPR11 radiated emissions requirements without additional filtering in many applications.

Comprehensive Protection and Control Features

The TPSM53604RDAR incorporates a full suite of protection and control functions. A power-good flag provides a digital indication of output voltage validity, supporting system-level power sequencing and monitoring. Precision enable allows the module to be turned on and off with a well-defined threshold, while programmable undervoltage lockout (UVLO) prevents operation when the input supply is insufficient.

Built-in hiccup-mode short-circuit protection limits output current during fault conditions and automatically attempts recovery, protecting both the module and the load. Overtemperature protection shuts down the device if the junction temperature exceeds safe limits. The module also supports monotonic startup into pre-biased outputs, ensuring predictable power-up behavior in systems with multiple supply rails.

Simplified Design and Layout

The TPSM53604RDAR eliminates two of the most challenging aspects of switching regulator design: loop compensation and magnetics selection. Because the control loop is internally compensated and the inductor is integrated, designers need only select input and output capacitors to complete a functional power supply. The total solution requires as few as four external components, reducing bill-of-materials cost and accelerating time-to-market.

The standard package footprint with perimeter-accessible pins and a single large thermal pad simplifies PCB layout and manufacturing. This design approach also reduces the risk of layout-related performance issues, which are common in discrete switching regulator designs.

Pin-Compatible Family for Scalable Current

The TPSM53604RDAR is pin-compatible with the 3-A TPSM53603 and 2-A TPSM53602 power modules. This family compatibility allows designers to scale output current capability across different product variants without redesigning the PCB. A single board layout can accommodate multiple current ratings, enabling platform-based design strategies that reduce development cost and inventory complexity.

General-Purpose Wide VIN Power Supplies

The TPSM53604RDAR is well-suited to general-purpose power supply applications where a wide input voltage range and robust protection features are required. Its 3.8-V to 36-V input range accommodates the voltage transients and surges common on industrial and automotive power buses, while the 4-A output current capability supports a wide range of loads.

Factory Automation and Control

Programmable logic controllers, industrial sensors, and motor control interfaces often operate from 24-V industrial buses and require compact, reliable power conversion. The TPSM53604RDAR's small footprint and thermal performance enable placement close to the load, reducing distribution losses and improving transient response. The module's Mil-STD-883D shock and vibration testing further supports its use in rugged factory environments.

Test and Measurement Equipment

Precision test and measurement instruments require low-noise power supplies with excellent line and load regulation. The TPSM53604RDAR's shielded inductor and low-EMI design help minimize noise coupling into sensitive analog measurement circuitry, while the power-good flag and precision enable support the sequencing and monitoring requirements of multi-rail instrument architectures.

Aerospace and Defense Systems

The TPSM53604RDAR's functional safety capability, wide temperature range, and compliance with Mil-STD-883D shock and vibration standards make it appropriate for aerospace and defense applications. Its ability to operate from 28-V aircraft power buses and deliver 4 A in a compact package addresses the size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints typical of avionics and defense electronics.

Negative Output Voltage Applications

The TPSM53604RDAR can be configured in an inverting buck-boost topology to generate a negative output voltage from a positive input. This capability is useful in analog signal chains requiring negative bias voltages for operational amplifiers and sensor interfaces.

Texas Instruments provides the TPSM53604EVM evaluation module, a fully assembled and tested platform configured to evaluate the TPSM53604 power module at up to 4 A. The EVM supports an input voltage range of 3.8 V to 36 V and provides test points for efficiency, transient response, and thermal measurements.

The WEBENCH® Power Designer supports the TPSM53604RDAR, allowing engineers to generate complete custom regulator designs with optimized external components. EVM design files are available for download to accelerate board design. The TPSM53604RDAR is also a functional safety-capable device, with documentation available to support functional safety system designs.

The TPSM53604RDAR demonstrates how advanced packaging and integration can solve fundamental power design challenges. By combining a 36-V, 4-A synchronous converter with an integrated inductor and comprehensive protection features in a 5.0 mm × 5.5 mm package, Texas Instruments has created a power module that reduces design complexity, shrinks PCB area, and accelerates time-to-market without compromising on efficiency, thermal performance, or reliability. Its pin compatibility with lower-current family members enables scalable power architectures, while its wide input range and robust protection suite address the demanding requirements of industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. For engineers seeking a proven, well-supported path to a compact 4-A power supply, the TPSM53604RDAR offers an exceptional balance of integration, performance, and design simplicity.