Core controller protects motherboard CPUs

Intersil has introduced a high-performance CPU multiphase core controller for Intel-based voltage regulator down (VRD) 10.X and enterprise voltage regulator down (EVRD) 10.X motherboards.

Intersil, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analogue solutions has introduced a high-performance CPU multiphase core controller for Intel-based voltage regulator down (VRD) 10.X and enterprise voltage regulator down (EVRD) 10.X desktop, workstation and server motherboards.

The device offers significant improvements in reliability in mission-critical applications such as servers, routers, switchers, or storage area network (SAN) and network attached storage (NAS) systems.

The introduction of the ISL6316 expands Intersil's already broad pulse width modulation (PWM) controller portfolio.

Continuing with the company's strategy of providing the industry's most precise VR10.X PWM controllers, the four-phase ISL6316 is the industry's most accurate CPU core controller and includes thermal monitoring and tracking over-current protection (OCP) over temperature, with +/-0.5% system accuracy over the complete CPU voltage range.

The temperature thresholds of the ISL6316 are programmable, enabling the controller to communicate to the CPU and alert the system when the voltage regulator overheats (VRHOT), signalling the CPU to reduce its power consumption.

The ISL6316 is also able to turn on a CPU or system fan (VRFAN) signal to cool the CPU down or identify when the CPU overheats and inform it to shut down.

The device is the industry's only VR10.X and EVRD10.X CPU core controller with tracking OCP over temperature that is based on a single, external negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor.

The current limit threshold of the ISL6316 is the same either at room temperature or at elevated temperatures inside a system chassis, offering significant improvements in reliability.

The system designer can therefore program the ISL6316 to respond to an overload of say 130A at an ambient temperature of 25C and know that it will have the same current limit threshold of 130A at an ambient temperature of 60C.

The ISL6316 controls microprocessor core voltage regulation by driving up to four synchronous-rectified buck channels in parallel.

Multiphase buck convertor architecture uses interleaved timing to multiply channel ripple frequency and reduce input and output ripple currents.

Lower ripple results in fewer components, reducing overall component cost, power dissipation and board area.

The device provides very accurate over-current protection, phase-to-phase current balance and loadline accuracy through differential current sensing, as well as very precise voltage regulation through differential voltage sensing.

Differential current sensing (measuring the current across the current sense element) ensures the multiphase convertor eliminates any current measurement inaccuracy due to PCB layout.

The ISL6316 features adjustable precision reference voltage offset to enable precise loadline programming.

The offset pin allows accurate voltage offset settings that are independent of voltage identification (VID) setting.

The device senses current by measuring the voltage across the on-resistance of the lower MOSFETs or direct current resistance (DCR) of the output inductor.

The ISL6316 is paired with Intersil's ISL6612/12A/13/13A/14/14A and ISL6605/08 FET drivers.

Dynamic VID technology allows seamless VID changes.

Target applications for the ISL6316 are desktop, workstation, server and industrial PC computer motherboards, voltage regulator modules (VRMs), routers and switches, ASIC core multiphase buck DC/DC convertor on VRMs, point-of-load and DC/DC convertors.

The ISL6316 is available now in a 40-lead QFN standard or lead-free package.

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