Integrated buck converter saves server space
Integrated synchronous point-of-load (PoL) buck converters, the SZPL8216A family, are versatile 12A devices for compact PCB layout, says Silanna Semiconductor.
The DC/DC buck converters integrate the functions of the DC/DC constant-on-time (COT) controller, output gate drivers and output power blocks in one QFN package with dimensions of 3.0 x 4.0mm. It delivers, says Silanna, the best power density with a minimum external component count. The buck converters help designers achieve compact PCB layout, high power density and high efficiency for low power loss in demanding and space-constrained applications such as enterprise servers, telecommunications, and networking equipment, adds the company.
The SZPL8216A-A, SZPL8216A-B and SZPL8216A-C devices deliver up to 12A with 94 per cent peak efficiency when converting from a nominal 12V input down to a 0.6 to 5.5 V output voltage range. They have a selectable switching frequency, 600kHz to 1.0MHz, allowing users to make to optimise their component size versus efficiency. Able to operate at 1.0MHz, allows designers to use a smaller output filter to minimise the total PCB size.
The converters also feature programmable current limit and soft start time, remote output voltage sensing, pre-biased start-up and a full suite of robust power supply protection features including under-voltage lock out, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection and thermal protection (OTP). The devices may operate from a single supply using their internal LDOs, or they can be bypassed and an external 3.3 or 5.0V bias supply used instead, to increase conversion efficiency further, advises Silanna.
The SZPL8216A COT controlled devices employ Silanna’s proprietary S-Loop control architecture which provides near instantaneous response to load transitions with minimal increase in over-shoot or under-shoot. This is critical for multi-core CPU and FPGA applications that quickly power on and off with high current load transients and which require a very stable power supply voltage.
The family SZPL8216A-AE34 (latched fault mode), SZPL8216A-BE34 and SZPL8216A-CE34 (hiccup fault mode) are sampling now. Mass production is expected in Q3. An evaluation board is also available.
