Improving performance of high current, low voltage power supplies
2 mins read
Based on the popular POLA platform, two point-of-load (POL) devices from Ericsson Power Modules are said to provide easy paralleling.
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This makes it possible for power servers and memory storage designers to access flexible solutions for the next generation of low voltage supplies with high dc currents approaching 100A.
The PMR5000 (50A) and PMR8000 (40A) are two additional products to Ericsson Power Modules' interoperable POLA product offering. Based on technologies such as TurboTrans, the company says that the devices provide the highest level of performance when the load changes quickly from an inactive low current state to a fully processing high current state whilst requiring a solid, precise supply voltage to be maintained.
Factors driving the demand for this type of product include high efficiency, very fast transient and response times and easy paralleling to reduce part numbers kept in inventory. Applications requiring these features combined with a high level of flexibility in power management when addressing microprocessor and memory storage, plus easy paralleling to double power on-demand include servers, data storage, high capacity memory cards, solid state drives, ATCA and a broad range of applications requiring high dynamic response POL powering low-voltage high-current situations. These POLA devices are perfect for servers and high density memory cards aimed at replacing conventional hard disks.
The PMR series' high output current has been designed to make it simple to interconnect two modules to power up to 100A applications, while maintaining high efficiency and a fast transient response time. Designed to meet ultra-fast transient response time requirements of up to 300A/?A, the PMR series is suitable for solid state drives and high capacity memory boards requiring high speed read/write capabilities.
With an output voltage range of 0.7 to 3.6V for the PMR5000, and 3 to 5.25V for the PMR8000, this flexibility is said to reduce the number of products in inventory while reducing time to market for designers requiring a large variety of voltages per board. Additionally, with an input voltage range of 4.5 to 14V for the PMR5000 and 8 to 14V for the PMR8000, this voltage range increases design flexibility by supporting operations with tightly regulated intermediate bus or loosely regulated 9.6 to 12V supplies.
The PMR5000 and PMR8000 include TurboTrans and SmartSync technologies. TurboTrans optimises the transient response of the regulator while simultaneously reducing the quantity of external output capacitors required to meet a target voltage deviation specification. Additionally, for a target output capacitor bank, TurboTrans can be used to improve the regulators' transient response by reducing the peak voltage deviation. SmartSync allows for switching frequency synchronisation of multiple modules, simplifying emi noise suppression tasks and reducing input capacitor RMS current requirements.