Artesyn’s New DC-DC Converter Modules for Wireless Power Amplifiers

Artesyn Embedded Technologies announced two new families of high performance isolated dc-dc converters for radio-frequency (RF) power amplifiers, used in micro and macro cell, NodeB/eNodeB, and remote radio head (RRH) applications. The first, the AVE family, is a half-brick format offering higher than 94 percent typical efficiency and excellent thermal performance, making it ideal for small space and high power applications. An aluminum baseplate structure makes it possible for the modules to operate between minus 40 and plus 85 degrees Celsius ambient temperature, and the Artesyn AVE family can continue to operate at full power up to 100 degrees Celsius baseplate temperature – all without air cooling. The first models in the AVE family offer a single 28 Vdc output and either 450 W at up to 16 A current output (AVE450B-48S28), or 350 W at 12.5 A current output (AVE350B-48S28-6). Artesyn AVE family converters offer a wide trim range of typically 60 to 118 percent of Vout and up to minus 50 percent to plus 118 percent of Vout. Other features include remote control, remote output sense, trim; and protection features such as input under voltage lockout, output over current protection, output over voltage protection, and over temperature protection. The new AVE family also includes a dual-output model (AVE450-48D2805), which enables network equipment providers to use less components in their designs and so save space and cost. It delivers up to 12A output current with 28V output voltage and 20A with 5.5V output voltage, which is widely adjustable from 4.5V to 12, for powering digital circuitry. The new dual-output AVE model offers higher than 92 percent efficiency and the same excellent thermal performance as the rest of the AVE series. The second new family of dc-dc converters announced by Artesyn today, the AGF family, comes in a standard full-brick format with aluminum baseplate structure and power levels of 600, 700 or 800 W with up to 28.6 A output current. It offers higher than 94 percent typical efficiency and excellent thermal performance. At 800 W power output, the AGF800 series, announced separately today, is the highest power dc-dc module ever produced by Artesyn. "Customer demands for higher efficiency and more power density have driven these innovative new designs and our engineering teams are continuing to develop power amplifier bricks that lead the industry," said Andy Brown, technical marketing director for dc-dc products at Artesyn Embedded Technologies. "Later this year, Artesyn plans to announce more new families of isolated dc-dc converters to extend the range into small space, high current and low voltage applications such as low-power, low-range, high-bandwidth small and pico cell sites."