Over 90% efficiency with only six external components

Geneva, Switzerland, February 25, 2025 -- STMicroelectronics’ DCP3601 miniature monolithic buck converter combines extensive feature integration and flexibility, enabling simple, low-BOM designs to achieve high conversion efficiency. The power switches and compensation are built-in, requiring only six components to complete the circuit, including the inductor, bootstrap and filter capacitors, and feedback resistors for setting the output voltage.

With its 3.3V-to-36V input voltage range and 1A output capability, the DCP3601 can power low-voltage loads in applications such as smart meters, domestic appliances, and industrial 24V conversion. Synchronous rectification and a fixed switching frequency of 1MHz ensure high efficiency across the load range and under all operating conditions, reaching 91% at 600mA with 12V input and 5V output.

Flexibility comes from the selection of different variants, offering the choice of forced-PWM operation for noise-sensitive applications or pulse-skipping at light load for minimal power consumption. Additionally, both the low-noise and low-consumption variants are available with frequency dithering to reduce noise power at the 1MHz switching frequency. All variants have extremely low quiescent current of 110µA and an Enable pin that allows turning off the converter with a dedicated signal to maximize power savings. 

Designers can quickly start new projects with the DCP3601 using the dedicated evaluation board, STEVAL-3601CV1. The board comes with screw terminals and headers and is ready to power-up out of the box, demonstrating an efficient circuit design with a compact footprint. 

First in the new buck-converter product family that will expand throughout the year, the DCP3601 is included in ST’s 10-year longevity program that ensures long-term access to components and support. Packaged as a 3mm x 1.6mm SOT23 6-lead device, the single-chip buck converter is priced from $0.48 for orders of 1000 pieces.

For further information please visit: www.st.com/dcp360.

About STMicroelectronics 

At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.