This features a two-stage architecture for 48 V applications to power up CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, ASICs, and memory.
Infineon says that its full system concept for 48 V architecture paves a way towards 99% of efficiency. It adds that by combining ZSC board with CoolGaN 600 V based solutions, it is offering optimised power flow and unparalleled performance for the datacentres of tomorrow.
The ZSC converter delivers the highest efficiency and power density for applications using 48 V, Infineon continues. Through capacitive energy transfer with soft switching of the power MOSFETs, it generates an intermediate bus voltage. This enables an easy and low-risk migration path for legacy 12 V systems to a 48 V infrastructure at improved total cost of ownership. Combined with Infineon’s multi-phase buck regulators, it offers overall efficiency of more than 94% and power density for 48 V input systems.
The board features microcontrollers, drivers and switches from Infineon. It comprises well-matched 25 V and 40 V OptiMOS 5 and OptiMOS 6 MOSFETs as well as EiceDRIVER 2EDi gate driver ICs. The XMC family of microcontrollers is complementing the ZSC switched capacitor converter.
It has been designed to be easy to implement as a voltage regulator module (VRM) or down (VRD) design, depending upon system requirements and limitations. The bi-directional power transfer capability of the ZSC converter is also said to offer "ultimate flexibility" for designers of power architectures to implement high-efficiency and compact bus converters that can provide voltage conversion from 48 V to 12 V, or vice versa.
Additionally, the converter can be configured to supply different conversion ratios (2:1, 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, 12:1) with the same set of components for best system-level efficiency optimisation. In a 4:1 configuration, the ZSC converter can achieve peak efficiency of up to 99% at 600 W with a power density of 780 W/inch 2. The same design can deliver up to 1 kW with what Infineon describes as excellent thermal performance, due to its high power conversion efficiency.
