Up to 83W from a quarter brick convertor

The latest additions to Artesyn Technologies' range of high-efficiency quarter-brick DC/DC convertor modules produce up to 83W of output power.

The latest additions to Artesyn Technologies' range of high-efficiency quarter-brick DC/DC convertor modules produce up to 83W of output power.

Measuring just 2.28 x 1.45 x 0.5in (58 x 37 x 13mm), the new EXQ125 series convertors have a power density of more than 50W/in3, which is a figure that sets a new standard for the industry.

The convertors are designed specifically to meet the growing demand for low-voltage high-current sources for powering latest-generation semiconductor technology, and are initially available with 3.3, 2.5 or 1.8V outputs.

All three models are capable of producing exceptionally high current output levels; the 2.5V and 1.8V units can deliver up to 30A, and the 3.3V unit can deliver up to 25A.

The convertors feature a wide input voltage range of 33 to 75V and are particularly suitable for systems employing a 48V distributed power architecture, including any that operate from a -48V central office battery plant.

Artesyn's EXQ125 series DC/DC convertors use synchronous rectification to achieve extremely high conversion efficiencies; the 3.3V model, for example, has a typical efficiency of 91%.

The convertors' open frame construction means that there are no thermally conductive potting compounds between power dissipating components and heat-sensitive control circuits, and a novel two-board stacked structure is employed to further thermally decouple these two areas.

The baseplate board containing the synchronous rectifiers is a two-layer thermally conductive substrate laminated to an aluminium plate.

The overall result is a high reliability design that has a wide operational temperature range, spanning from -40C ambient up to +100C baseplate temperature.

Designed for fully automated assembly, EXQ125 series convertors are constructed entirely from SMT components, and have a standard quarter-brick footprint.

In fact, the converters are pin-for-pin compatible with a number of leading competitive products - which makes them ideal for manufacturers seeking a second source option - but are capable of delivering more usable power under low airflow or natural convection conditions than any comparable DC/DC convertor on the market today.

All EXQ125 series convertors offer an output voltage trim facility that enables the output to be adjusted between 90 and 110% of nominal.

This is a particularly useful feature for systems designers who wish to perform margin testing by varying supply voltages, and it also allows standard off-the-shelf DC/DC convertors to be used in applications involving highly specific voltage requirements, which would previously have demanded expensive customised power sources.

All three convertors in the series also offer remote on/off facility.

The converters have no minimum load requirement, and are comprehensively protected against overvoltage, overtemperature and short-circuit conditions.

A combination of nonlatching clamping overvoltage protection and a brick wall current limit characteristic are employed to help maximise system uptime, by ensuring that the convertor will continue to deliver power even when in failure mode.

Artesyn's EXQ125 series DC/DC convertors have a 1500V DC isolation rating and carry a full set of international safety approvals, including EN60950 (TUV Rheinland) and UL/cUL1950.

The convertors are designed to meet all relevant standards for use in telecommunications equipment, including ETS 300-019 for environmental protection, ETS 300-132-2 for maximum inrush current and supply voltage rise time, and ETS 300-386-1 for EMC issues.

With the addition of a small number of external filtering components, EXQ125 series convertors can meet the EN55022 level A and level B standards for conducted noise emissions.

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