BGA package offers more options for digital PoL DC/DC converters
Two converters, the BMR466 and BMR461 from Flex Power Modules are now available in a ball grid array (BGA) package, as well as the original land grid array (LGA) package.
Both modules can be deployed in distributed power and intermediate bus voltage architectures within the ICT (information and communication technology), telecomms and industrial sectors. They are also suitable for high-power and high-performance products such as networking and telecommunications equipment, servers and data storage applications, as well as industrial equipment.
The BMR466 has a power density of 24A/cm3, and up to 94.4 per cent efficiency with a 5.0V input and a 1.8V output, at half load. The DC/DC converter can handle up to 60A and is designed to power microprocessors, FPGAs, ASICs and other digital ICs on complex boards. In addition, up to eight of the regulated 60A (maximum) PoL converters can be connected in parallel to deliver up to 480A in multi-module and multi-phase systems. Operating from a 4.5 to 14V input, the BMR466 is suited to operation across a range of intermediate bus voltages and complies with the Dynamic Bus Voltage scheme to reduce power dissipation and save energy. The factory default output voltage is set to 1.2V, which can be adjusted from 0.6 to 1.8V either via a pin-strap resistor or PMBus commands.
Through software control, the BMR466 uses adaptive compensation of the PWM control loop and energy-optimisation algorithms to reduce energy consumption and deliver a stable and secure power supply with fast transient performance over a wide range of operating conditions, says Flex Power Modules. In multi-module systems, two or more of the single-phase BMR466 PoL converters can be synchronised with an external clock to enable phase spreading, which means the reduction of input ripple current and corresponding capacitance requirements and efficiency losses.
The second DC/DC converter offered in a BGA package is the BMR461, claimed to be the first 12 x 12 x 8mm 12A digital PoL module to combine Dynamic Loop Compensation (DLC), low-bias current technology and advanced energy-optimisation algorithms to reduce energy consumption. The module’s DLC is based on ‘state-space’ or ‘model- predictive’ control, which guarantees stability while also achieving the optimum dynamic performance without requiring any external components, says Flex.
Also operating from a 4.5 to 14V input, the BMR461 makes significant gains in efficiency, especially in sub-1V modules where it performs up 10 points higher than high-market-average units, reports the company. For example, taking power from a 5.0V intermediate bus, the BMR461 is designed to power 0.6V applications and is verified to reach up to 85.7 per cent efficiency at full load; conventional units that are not using low-bias-current technology will have a typical efficiency of 75 per cent. When operated from the 12V intermediate bus with the output set to 5V at 80 per cent load, the BMR461 delivers 96 per cent efficiency.
Both the BMR461 and BMR466 are available in production now in both BGA and LGA variants in OEM quantities.
