New chip architecture increases DC-DC conversion efficiency

28 March 2001 Power Electronics / Power Management

International Rectifier has introduced iPOWIR technology, which it claims is a whole new way to design on-board DC-DC converters for computing and communications equipment.

Power demands for digital ICs are constantly increasing while size of converters to power these ICs must be minimised. IR says that iPOWIR technology is a breakthrough in power density, efficiency and simplicity for power conversion. The technology means that all layout-critical power semiconductor and passive components of the circuit are integrated to form complete functional building blocks, reducing converter size as well as simplifying and reducing power system design time.

The iP2001 is the company's first iPOWIR component - a high-current, multiphase DC-DC converter power building block, housed in a BGA package. Layout-critical components within the iP2001 form a building block from which N+1 phases can be constructed, adding only an external PWM controller plus input and output passive components to form a complete converter. Each iP2001 is capable of handling up to 15A at 1MHz switching frequency. By cascading multiple iP2001 and the associated devices in a multiphase system, currents in excess of 100A can be achieved.

IR claims the architecture can increase DC-DC conversion efficiency by as much 6%, reduce power loss as much as 25% and shrink size from 44 to 58% when compared to some circuits using discrete components or modules.

For further information contact Mark van der Westhuizen at Avnet Kopp, (011) 444 2333, [email protected], or see www.avnetkopp.co.za

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