Advancements in magnetics design and manufacturing allow integration of smaller, higher current inductors that can be placed in close proximity on the same substrate as the DC/DC converter integrated circuit. An integrated power solution incorporates a power inductor that is optimized for the DC/DC converter. The entire assembly is solder reflowed to attach the IC, inductor, and passive components to a metal lead frame. The TPS84620 is a very easy device to use, only three external components are needed; an input capacitor, an output capacitor, and a voltage programming resistor. Other features are available that require additional components to allow the same flexibility as a discrete solution, such as an adjustable switching frequency, an adjustable soft start, an adjustable under voltage lock out, a sequencing pin, and a clock pin to synchronize the frequency to a master clock. The TPS84620 is a small 12V, 6A solution, and the 15 x 9 x 2.8mm package helps save board space. Even though the power inductor is integrated, the package power dissipation is still very significant.  Low thermal resistance translates into better long term reliability as the device operates at a lower temperature. The TPS84620 is ideal for powering DSPs and FPGAs and allows design engineers to focus on other, more important matters.