System power architectures can be very complex with semiconductor devices or subsystems operating from different voltages (1.8V, 3.3V or 5V) with current demands ranging from many amps in to microamps. An increasingly popular approach to this challenge is to employ a Point of Load (POL) power system architecture which allows a single power supply bus of typically 12V to be set up, where the voltage is then stepped down to the correct level locally using POL converters for each subsystem circuit or IC.
Simplify power designs with versatile DC-DC converters from TDK that offer unrivalled power density and ease of design
System power architectures can be very complex with semiconductor devices or subsystems operating from different voltages (1.8V, 3.3V or 5V) with current demands ranging from many amps in to microamps.
An increasingly popular approach to this challenge is to employ a Point of Load (POL) power system architecture which allows a single power supply bus of typically 12V to be set up, where the voltage is then stepped down to the correct level locally using POL converters for each subsystem circuit or IC.
This approach has a number of advantages, it allows the main power supply for the system to be simplified by reducing the number of output voltages that need to be delivered at that point. Because the voltage is being stepped down locally at the point of load, often adjacent to the semiconductor or subsystem, voltage drops, EMI circuit noise, parasitic capacitance and inductances which can be a common issue associated with long PCB tracks from the main system power supply to the component are also reduced.
In this month’s edition, David Pearson, Technical Director at Anglia, introduces a range of POL DC-DC converters from TDK which offer one of the industry’s most compact and highest power density solutions for demanding power applications. This family of devices offers the system developer with an efficient, and cost-effective solution for designing an architecture that can accommodate all of the particular power requirements that exist within the system.
TDK µPOLTM DC-DC Converters
Point of Load DC-DC converters are a special type of switching power supply technology that has rapidly gained popularity due to their incredible efficiency, speed of response and compact size. POL DC-DC converters integrate a field effect power transistor (MOSFET) along with other required components into a single device, they often feature a fast response time to changes in the system load demand, allowing the components or subsystems being supplied to be powered-on quickly and efficiently.
The FS series of μPOL™ DC-DC converters from TDK ushers in a new era of power management solutions with increased performance, greater reliability, smallest available size, ease of use and simplified integration. The FS series of DC-DC converters are highly integrated point of load converters designed for powering CPUs, MCUs, ASICs, FPGAs, DSP, and other advanced digital logic devices, providing the high performance, fast load transient response, high accuracy voltage regulation and extremely compact footprint demanded by these devices. TDK have developed the FS series POL DC-DC converters to address the demanding requirements of a wide range of modern applications such as big data processing, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G cells, IoT, enterprise computing and many others besides.
The FS series POL converters are high current density power modules featuring a chip-embedded power IC in a thermally enhanced semiconductor-embedded-in-substrate package, this patented packaging solution does not use traditional internal wirebonds, improving reliability in harsh applications where shock and vibration may occur, the devices are qualified to 500m/s² (51G) for Shock and 10G multi axis for Vibration. The advanced embedded substrate package allows for greatly simplified, efficient thermal management and the devices have an extended industrial operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C.
The devices function as non-isolated step-down converters (Buck converter) and feature a wide input voltage range and configurable output voltages requiring minimal external components helping to significantly reduce component and placement costs. Furthermore, the stability of the converters is ensured internally, so there is also no need for external compensation components.
The FS series converters are designed to be scalable and are highly configurable with multi-time programmable memory, offering great flexibility. Rather than using a side by side discrete integrated circuit (IC) and discrete inductor (L), the FS series of µPOL™ DC-DC converters integrates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller, MOSFETs, plus inductor and capacitors into a single module (Fig.1), resulting in an extremely accurate regulator supplied in a compact configuration offering a high-density solution for space-constrained applications and those requiring a low-profile power source.
Figure 1 – Highly Integrated Module
The TDK μPOL™ DC-DC converters are currently available in four variants with continuous output current capabilities of 3, 4, 6 and 12A, the converters accept input voltages up to 16V and feature pre-set output voltages of 2.5V, 3.3V, 5.0V or adjustable outputs from 0.6V to 2.5V depending on the model chosen. Power ratings are 15W for the 3 to 6A models and 25W for the 12A model. The 3, 4 and 6A devices have an integrated I2C interface, whilst the 12A device has a PMBus programming interface, both interfaces allow designers to configure the device for a wide range of applications. The FS series devices also incorporate several built-in protection features including pre-biased start-up, soft-start protection, over-voltage protection, thermally compensated over-current protection with hiccup mode and thermal shut-down with auto-recovery. Fig.2.
Figure 2 - Functional Block Diagram – FS series 3, 4 and 6A versions
The FS series converters are extremely compact measuring just 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.5 mm for 3, 4 and 6A outputs and 5.8mm x 4.9mm x 1.6mm for the 12A output model, both packages are LGA style with 17 and 22 pins respectively. The converters have been designed to minimize additional external components, allowing them to retain the highest possible performance and reliability whilst offering a simplified design for ease of integration. The FS series DC-DC converters deliver a high-power density solution of 1 watt per mm3, while at the same time offering a 50% reduction in solution size compared with other similar products currently available in their class. Due to the ultrathin package employed, it is possible to mount the μPOL modules on the backside of a PCB further freeing up the topside surface for other components. As a result, this helps designers minimise system solution cost, improve reliability, reduce board size and assembly costs, as well as BOM and PCB costs.
TDK’s μPOL™ technology allows the DC-DC converter to be placed very close to complex chipsets such as ASICs, FPGAs and other similar devices, by reducing the placement distance between the DC-DC converter and the chipset they are powering, the resistance and the inductance components can be minimized, allowing fast response and accurate regulation even with dynamic load currents.
TDK have gone to great efforts to make the FS series converters easy to use, these highly integrated modules mean system designers need only add input and output capacitors to make a complete DC-DC POL converter.
Evaluation Boards
To support developers, TDK have also made a range of evaluation boards available that allow quick appraisal of all the key features of the µPOL™ DC-DC converters, these boards are supplied with full supporting documentation which includes a bill of materials, schematics and typical performance graphs.
GUI Software and user guides are available to download for free from the TDK website, this software allows users to interface with the evaluation boards to change configurations and program the modules.
Scan the QR code below to download.
The FS series of µPOL™ DC-DC converters are also supported by Ultra Librarian, the free online CAD library, where schematic symbols, footprint and 3D models for all the popular CAD software packages can be downloaded. Furthermore, Ultra Librarian also has a number of reference designs available covering single and multiple µPOL™ designs to suit applications up to 40W, these include complete schematics and layouts that can be imported directly into your design. Ultra Librarian supports all the most popular CAD software packages including Altium, Cadence Allegro, OrCAD, Mentor Graphics, Eagle Libraries and KiCad.*
Design support
Anglia offers support for customer designs with free evaluation kits, demonstration boards and samples of TDK products via the EZYsample service which is available to all registered Anglia Live account customers.
Anglia’s engineering team are also on hand to support designers with power-based designs and can offer advice and support at component and system level. This expertise is available to assist customers with all aspects of their product design, providing hands on support and access to additional comprehensive TDK resources including technical application notes, whitepapers, reference designs and online tools to help designers select the right product by application or power requirement.
Visit www.anglia-live.com to see the full range of TDK products available from Anglia.
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