Quarter-brick convertors deliver a cool 50W

Artesyn Technologies has further extended its range of quarter-brick DC/DC convertors with the introduction of a series of low-profile 50W modules.

Artesyn Technologies has further extended its range of quarter-brick DC/DC convertors with the introduction of a series of low-profile 50W modules.

The new EXQ50 series convertors are high-efficiency, open-frame units with very low internal power dissipation, and do not require heatsinks.

The convertors have an industry-standard quarter-brick footprint of 56 x 37mm and a height of just 10mm, yielding a power density of 2.4W/cm3.

Artesyn's EXQ50 series convertors are available with 5.0, 3.3, 2.5 or 1.8V outputs, and are designed specifically to meet the low voltage, high current needs of latest-generation semiconductor technology.

All four models are capable of producing exceptionally high output currents; the 2.5 and 1.8V units can deliver up to 20A, and the 3.3V unit can deliver up to 15A.

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 EXQ50 series DC/DC convertors use a technique known as synchronous rectification to achieve extremely high conversion efficiencies; the 5V model, for example, has a typical efficiency of 90%.

The power dissipated by the convertors is consequently so low that a heatsink is not required.

This, coupled with the convertors' open frame, single-board construction, means that users enjoy significant benefits in terms of low weight, and reduced height, board space and cost.

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, EXQ50 series convertors are constructed entirely from SMT components, and have a standard quarter-brick footprint.

The converters are pin-for-pin compatible with a number of leading competitive products - making 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 convertors on the market today.

All EXQ50 series convertors offer a 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 four 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 EXQ50 series DC/DC convertors have a 1500V DC isolation rating and carry a full set of international safety approvals, including EN60950 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, EXQ50 series convertors can meet the EN55022 level A and level B standards for conducted noise emissions.

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