Linear Boost · Enhanced Linear Regulator

BT29 Series

Clean-and-Simple, Optocoupler-Enhanced Boost Regulators

5 V
Max Vout
3.1 V @ 0.1 A
Min Vin
500 mA
Max Iout
60 dB
PSRR @ 1 kHz
>65%
Peak efficiency
200 krad(Si)
TID
Description

BT29 Series overview

BT29 is a series of low-noise, switching-free optocoupler-enhanced linear boost voltage regulators that use Polaris Semiconductor’s patented circuit topology. The devices consist of a high-current MIC29152 LDO co-packaged with Polaris Semiconductor high-efficiency optocoupler chips. This offers high PSRR, low ground current, and high output-current performance combined with efficient, switching-free boost capability.

The BT29 series has been designed for up to 5 V output and is configured for 3–5 V input voltages. During optocoupler-enhanced operation, the LDO injects current into the optocoupler’s LED, which transfers photons to the PV device. In turn, the PV device steps up the input voltage, which is then regulated by the LDO’s feedback circuit. The result is an efficient, simple, and switching-free boost regulator.

Base LDO: MIC29152. Every device can also be operated as a conventional LDO by shorting two pins.

BT29 series evaluation board: the compact QFN Enhanced Linear Regulator at center with a handful of small passive components — no inductors
BT29 evaluation board — Linear Boost Enhanced Linear Regulator
Specifications

Device configurations

BT29 device configurations
DeviceNominal Vout rangeIin @ Iout = 0.1 AMin Vin @ Iout = 0.1 AQFN package
BT291D18M Von – 5 V 240 mA 3.1 V (M) QFN-28 · 6×6×0.8 mm
  1. Iin is typical input current after device turn-on.
  2. Von denotes the turn-on voltage: the minimum input at which the boosted output regulates (defined in the ELR white paper, Eq. 1).
  3. An additional boost configuration — BT291D50M, the “Tiny Boost” of PSAN001 (also featured in PSAN002), with an adjustable output up to 5 V — is documented in the application notes and BT29 spotlight and is available for sampling; contact us for specifications. Earlier literature refers to this part as BT291D50H — same device.
BT29 boost output voltage and efficiency versus input voltage at a 50 mA load: the output regulates at 5 V from roughly a 2.9–4.2 V input while conversion efficiency peaks above 65% — with no switching stage.
BT29 — regulated 5 V boost output and efficiency vs. VIN (50 mA load), >65% peak.

Applications

  • Clean Analog Supply Requirements
  • Post-Switching Power Supply
  • Rad-Tolerant Space Power Supply
  • Battery-Powered Systems
Documentation

Technical documentation

Application notes, white papers, and spotlights covering the BT29 series.

Datasheets and SPICE models ship with a sample request — or email info@polarissemiconductor.com.

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