TPS54218RTER - 2A, 2MHz Sync Step-Down Buck | TI
MPN: TPS54218RTER ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.39 | $0.39 |
| 10 | $0.37 | $3.70 |
| 100 | $0.34 | $34.00 |
| 500 | $0.31 | $155.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.29 | $290.00 |
TPS54218RTER Overview
A synchronous buck converter is a type of switching voltage regulator that steps a higher DC input voltage down to a lower regulated output voltage using two internal MOSFETs - a high-side control FET and a low-side synchronous rectifier - instead of an external Schottky diode. Within the power management hierarchy (DC-DC converter, switching regulator, power management IC), synchronous topologies improve efficiency at light and full load by eliminating diode conduction losses, which is why they dominate point-of-load designs in modern digital systems.
Key features include two integrated 30 mOhm (typical) MOSFETs delivering high efficiency at full 2A load, an externally synchronizable switching frequency from 200 kHz to 2 MHz for filter and footprint optimization, a precision 0.8V reference holding plus or minus 1 percent over temperature, and adjustable soft start with sequencing support. UV and OV power-good monitoring simplifies system supervision and fault reporting.
Architecturally, the TPS54218 belongs to TI's SWIFT family of point-of-load converters. The D-CAP-style adaptive on-time control approach delivers fast transient response with low output ripple while supporting ceramic output capacitors without complex compensation. The integrated FETs and compact 16-WQFN (RTE) exposed-pad package minimize the external component count and PCB area for space-constrained rails.
Typical applications include 5V or 3.3V point-of-load conversion for DSPs, FPGAs, and ASICs; DDR memory rail generation in networking and telecom equipment; and low-voltage rail powering in industrial and consumer systems where the narrow 2.95V to 6V input aligns with 3.3V and 5V intermediate bus rails.
When designing, select the inductor and output capacitor for the chosen switching frequency: at 2 MHz, smaller inductance values reduce solution size but increase ripple current, while operating near 200 kHz maximizes efficiency. Keep the PH and BOOT loops tight and use the exposed pad as the thermal ground.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in alternative analysis, pinout guidance, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for TPS54218RTER — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with TPS54218RTER (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Topology, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
TPS54618QRLBRQ1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TPS54426RSAR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TPS54218RTER Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Topology | Synchronous Step-Down (Buck) |
| Input Voltage Range | 2.95 V to 6 V |
| Output Voltage (Adjustable) | 0.803 V to 6 V (reference 0.8 V) |
| Maximum Output Current | 2 A |
| Switching Frequency | 200 kHz to 2 MHz |
| Voltage Reference Accuracy | 0.8 V +/-1% over temperature |
| High-Side MOSFET On-Resistance | 30 mOhm (typical) |
| Low-Side MOSFET On-Resistance | 30 mOhm (typical) |
| Number of Outputs | 1 |
| Synchronization | External clock synchronization supported |
| Soft-Start | Adjustable soft start / sequencing |
| Power Good | UV and OV power-good monitoring |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +150C (RTE) |
| Package | 16-WFQFN (RTE) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
TPS54218RTER 16-wfqfn (rte) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for TPS54218RTER (16-wfqfn (rte) with exposed pad package). This power device features gate, drain, and source terminals. For non-polarized packages, refer to the manufacturer datasheet for exact pin 1 orientation and footprint details. Common applications include power supply design, motor driving, and load switching.
No detailed pinout data available for TPS54218RTER.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
TPS54218RTER is suitable for 6 applications: Point-of-Load Conversion for DSPs and FPGAs, DDR Memory Rail Generation, Networking and Telecom Equipment, Industrial Automation and Control, Battery-Powered Portable Systems, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Point-of-Load Conversion for DSPs and FPGAs
The TPS54218RTER fits point-of-load (POL) regulation for DSPs, FPGAs, and ASICs that are fed from a 3.3V or 5V intermediate bus. Its 0.8V reference held to plus or minus 1 percent over temperature meets the tight core-rail accuracy requirements of modern low-voltage silicon, while the 200 kHz to 2 MHz adjustable frequency lets designers run at 2 MHz to shrink the inductor below the footprint of dense processor clusters. The integrated 30 mOhm MOSFET pair sustains 2A continuous load with high efficiency, and the UV/OV power-good output gives the processor a rail-valid flag for sequencing and fault handling. Placed within millimeters of the load with tight PH and BOOT loops, it delivers fast transient response during core clock bursts without the ringback that external-diode designs often exhibit.
Recommended
DDR Memory Rail Generation
Memory subsystems demand accurate, low-noise core and termination rails in a compact area, and the TPS54218RTER addresses both needs. The 0.8V plus or minus 1 percent voltage reference over temperature directly supports the accuracy windows of VDD rails for DDR3/DDR4-class devices, and the 2MHz capability permits small, low-profile inductors suitable for dense memory modules and mezzanine layouts. The adjustable soft-start controls inrush into large bulk capacitance banks common on memory boards, while the power-good signal lets the memory controller gate initialization until rails are valid. Efficiency at 2A from the integrated synchronous FETs limits local heating in enclosed memory compartments. Use a low-ESR ceramic output capacitor network to keep output ripple within the load's specification during burst read/write traffic.
Recommended
Networking and Telecom Equipment
Line cards, switches, and small-cell radio units in networking and telecom equipment are built from 3.3V and 5V intermediate buses, exactly the 2.95V-6V window the TPS54218RTER is designed around. External clock synchronization allows hundreds of converters on a board to be locked to a single system clock, suppressing beat-frequency noise that can couple into high-speed SERDES and PHY rails. The 2A output covers PHY, microcontroller, and ASIC rails, and the wide frequency range lets designers tune each rail: high frequency for footprint-critical PHY supplies, low frequency for efficiency-critical always-on rails. Adjustable sequencing coordinates multi-rail power-up of processors and optics, improving field reliability in 24/7 telecom infrastructure.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Control
Industrial controllers, drives, and I/O modules frequently derive low-voltage logic rails from a 5V rail, and the TPS54218RTER provides a compact, efficient 2A step-down for this purpose. The -40C to +150C RTE package rating supports harsh cabinet environments, and the UV/OV power-good supervision provides early warning of brownout conditions on the factory floor. Synchronization to an external clock prevents low-frequency beat interference with sensitive analog front-ends such as current-sense amplifiers used in motor control. The adjustable soft-start supports graceful restart after fault clearing. Because the converter integrates both MOSFETs and operates from a fixed 5V bus, the external solution consists of just an inductor and a few ceramic capacitors, simplifying BOM management for high-volume industrial builds.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Systems
Single-cell lithium-ion systems regulated to about 3.3V-4.2V sit squarely inside the 2.95V-6V input range of the TPS54218RTER, making it a strong point-of-load choice for portable instruments, handheld testers, and battery-backed IoT gateways. Operating at 2 MHz keeps switching artifacts above sensitive signal bands and allows sub-millimeter-height inductors for thin enclosures. The synchronous topology's integrated 30 mOhm MOSFETs preserve battery runtime compared with external-diode buck designs, particularly at partial loads typical of duty-cycled radios. The enable and soft-start/sequencing pins support power-gating of subsystems to extend sleep time, while the power-good flag allows the host MCU to log rail health before shutdown during deep discharge events.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Bench and portable instruments need clean, accurate internal rails so that measurement accuracy is not corrupted by supply noise. The TPS54218RTER's 0.8V plus or minus 1 percent reference over temperature maintains rail accuracy across warm-up and environmental drift, while 2MHz operation places switching ripple far above the passband of low-speed analog sections, easing downstream LC filtering. External clock synchronization ties converter switching to the instrument's master clock, converting spurs into predictable, calibratable tones. The 2A output comfortably powers ADC, FPGA, and interface rails, and the power-good output supports the instrument's self-test diagnostics. Compact 16-WQFN (RTE) layout fits the crowded boards typical of handheld scopes and data loggers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TPS54218RTER — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TPS54618QRLBRQ1 | TPS54426RSAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-WFQFN (RTE) exposed pad | 16-pin QFN | 16-pin QFN class |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Output Current | 2 A | 2 A | 4 A class |
| Reference in retrieved web data | ETEI comparison, IC-Components cross-ref list | Avaq comparison page | ETEI comparison page |
Key Differentiators
- Up to 2 MHz operation with external clock sync (vs TPS54426RSAR)
- Automotive-qualified family option (vs TPS54618QRLBRQ1)
- Integrated dual 30 mOhm MOSFETs at 2A (vs TPS54120 / TPS54320 / TPS54620)
Design Notes
Place the input capacitor, output capacitor, and inductor within a few millimeters of the RTE package. Keep the PH-to-inductor loop as short and wide as possible to minimize the high-frequency switching loop area, and route the BOOT capacitor directly from BOOT to PH. Solder the exposed pad to a solid ground pour with an array of thermal vias - the exposed pad is both the thermal path for 2A operation and the main grounding point for the device.
Choose the switching frequency based on the rail's priorities. At 2 MHz, a roughly 1 uH inductor keeps ripple manageable with very small solution size, but switching losses rise; near 200 kHz, a larger inductance (around 4.7 uH) improves efficiency for thermally constrained or battery-powered designs. Use low-ESR X5R/X7R ceramic output capacitors, which the device's control topology supports without elaborate compensation. Estimated: ripple current scales inversely with frequency and inductance, so halving the frequency roughly doubles required inductance for equal ripple.
Do not exceed the 6V maximum input - the TPS54218 is a narrow-input POL part, not a 12V-input converter; upstream transients on 5V rails can exceed 6V, so verify surge conditions or add input protection. Never leave SS/TR floating if a defined startup ramp is required, and route the RT/CLK pin per datasheet guidance when synchronizing to an external clock, since a poorly terminated sync line can cause frequency jitter and subharmonic behavior.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per distributor listings (DigiKey/Mouser) for the 16-WQFN (RTE) package. Commercial-grade part; use TPS54618QRLBRQ1 for AEC-Q100 automotive requirements. Obtain formal REACH and conflict-minerals declarations from TI's product page.
