Anablog

Linear Technology has been cranking out power modules with integrated magnetics for a year or so. These tiny modules are like an IC, you can pick-and-place them and they go right though wave soldering. They can qual them for military use. The parts can take higher voltages and handle more power than say, Enpirion modules, but like Enpirion, all you have to do is hang and input and output cap near the part and you have a complete switching power supply. The modules are low EMI/RFI since Linear uses shielded inductors. They can go down to 0.6 volts in some cases. The 36-volt modules are perfect for automotive use. The designs have superior ripple and noise performance. What really blew me away are some modules that do use an internal inductor. Those modules can provide 98% efficiency (really that is not a typo). Better yet, at low and high input voltages those modules are still well over 90% efficient. Awesome, as one would expect from LT. The company can prove app notes to help with design and soldering considerations. Best of all they tossed some raw meat into Panama Mike Engelhardt cave, so there are SPICE models available. You can combine those models with models of your board inductance and such to provide and accurate estimate of circuit performance. The crack Linear Tech FAEs have a spreadsheet tool that can also calculate if your sense lines are too long and warn you to add more output capacitance to keep things stable.

These LT buck regulator modules combine the controller IC, the FETs, a schottky and the inductor to provide up to 12 amperes. The underside of the parts shown in the photo is cleverly partitioned to allow good thermal performance.