Product category:
DC/DC Convertors
News Release from: Ericsson Power Modules | Subject: PKB-C
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 05 June 2007
Eighth-brick convertor produces more
DC/DC convertor produces considerably more output power than similar standard eighth-brick footprint products.
Ericsson Power Modules reckons its PKB-C DC/DC convertor produces considerably more output power than similar standard eighth-brick footprint products This is an important benefit in applications where customers are looking for higher power in a smaller package than the traditional quarter-brick, or alternatively to obtain higher power in a standard eighth-brick format when upgrading boards to achieve higher performance levels
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 9 Dec 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The PKB-C's use of a secondary digital monitoring circuit makes it possible for Ericsson Power Modules to offer control of an infinite number of output circuit characteristics, such as latching, overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection and overtemperature protection all without adding any extra components.
Because this circuit can be programmed during manufacturing, it reduces the time to customer when a tailor-made protection configuration is required.
The module is available in two versions: through-hole and surface-mount.
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There is also a further mechanical option that features a broader baseplate to cater for higher operating temperatures in situations where airflow is reduced.
The PKB-C is aimed at existing eighth-brick customers aiming to provide power for applications demanding higher power without redesigning boards for larger products (such as quarter-bricks).
This saves time and costs and the transition is faster and easier.
Customers facing challenging board space optimisation and migrating from quarter-brick to eighth-brick without wanting to compromise performances will also find the convertor very useful.
Because the surface mount version of the PKB-C is less than 9mm high, the module is particularly suitable for applications designed for low building height, guaranteeing enough isolation distance from the module to an adjacent board.
Designed for use with 48V input applications, the PKB-C is primarily made for telecomms and datacomms applications such as routers, servers, data storage and wireless networking, but also for many other applications requiring high-power- density modules with a high thermal performance such as process control, robotics, embedded computer applications, and many others.
End users/customers are continually adding functionality to applications that require more power per board, while simultaneously expecting a reduction of space allocated to the onboard power sources.
Driven by this, in 2004 Ericsson Power Modules introduced a sixteenth-brick format module (PKU), which, given its power and performance, effectively superseded the first generation of eighth-brick modules that were introduced only two years earlier, in 2002.
Despite the sixteenth-brick module gaining market share, whenever lower price and higher performance are required, eighth-brick remains a very competitive platform, and the increased level of deliverable power offered by PKB-C responds to the continuing demand for higher power in a similar footprint without compromises.
compared with Ericsson Power Modules' original PKB eighth-brick module, the output power has been increased significantly, delivering in the same environment up to 60% extra power (up from 25 to 40A at 3.3V).
This same improvement level is also seen when compared with the most recent products released by various manufacturers in the eighth-brick format.
Apart from an increase in deliverable output power, end-customers are demanding high flexibility in terms of other performances (eg very specific trimming point of OVP, OTP, OCP, and protection characteristics such as latching or nonlatching), and the PKB-C delivers in this area too.
The inclusion of the secondary digital monitoring control circuit makes it possible to characterise the module during manufacturing without adding any extra components, and on a unique PCB, to customise the output protection requirements to meet customers' specific requirements.
The use of so-called secondary-side control enables tighter control of the output voltage and ensures that the most stringent requirements for monotonic and prebiased startup can be met.
A digital microcontroller handles all the protection features in an extremely flexible way, simultaneously taking up a minimal amount of the space needed for the current doubler and the power train.
Thus, a single, basic product can be defined in an infinite number of combinations to provide a customised product at the same cost as a standard module.
The PKB-C's footprint compatibility with eighth and quarter-brick, combined with surface-mount and through-hole options and the optional baseplate, makes this product very flexible in terms of choice per application.
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