Ericsson scales new heights for power handling and thermal management with advanced bus converter

• New advanced bus converter leverages Ericsson’s advanced Hybrid Regulated Ratio (HRR) topology to deliver up to 450W and 37.5A for high-power, high performance applications 
• PKB4413D offers up to 96% efficiency at 12V output, significantly reducing energy and cooling costs
• Advanced design offers excellent thermal derating, making it ideal for use in environments with high ambient temperatures or limited airflow 
• High-performance DC/DC converter delivers tightly regulated power for intermediate bus conversion applications in telecom and networking markets

Ericsson has launched a low-profile, 450W DC/DC converter module that is designed to deliver a tightly regulated 12V output voltage at up to 37.5A to point-of-load (POL) DC/DC converters. Offered in a 5-pin 1/8-brick footprint, compatible with the DOSA (Distributed-power Open Standards Alliance) standard, the new PKB4413D advanced bus converter has an input range from 36V to 60V and is ideal for intermediate bus conversion in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) applications. 

The PKB4413D incorporates the company’s cutting-edge HRR (Hybrid Regulated Ratio) technology to deliver high-power conversion from a wide input voltage range, while keeping power losses low. Offering class-leading performance in thermally challenging environments and delivering a typical efficiency of 96%, with a 48V input and 12V output at half-load, the module significantly reduces energy and cooling costs. Competitive products typically dissipate 18% or more of their input power at 30A loads.

Meeting the deployment requirements for distributed power and intermediate bus voltage architectures, the module particularly targets high-power and high-performance use in networking and telecommunications equipment, servers and data storage applications, as well as industrial equipment.

Ericsson has leveraged its highly innovative HRR topology in the development of the PKB4413D. Initially introduced in the company’s high-end quarter-brick PKM-NH family, the technology has been further enhanced to deliver even better utilization of the powertrain. The module’s excellent response to line and load transients guarantees the output voltage will remain stable and immune from voltage deviations that are due to power disturbances on the system bus. This retains intermediate bus voltage integrity within the tolerance band required by power system architects.

Delivering excellent thermal performance in challenging circumstances, the converter provides higher useable power in high ambient temperatures or limited-airflow environments leading to higher reliability. The use of tellurium copper pins provides excellent thermal transport, and a baseplate connects the module to a heatsink or coldplate as standard. In addition, careful attention was given to the design of the thermal path from the thermally critical components to the baseplate. This has resulted in a flat thermal profile for the critical components and outstanding heat transfer to the baseplate or heatsink.

Designed to be through-hole mounted, the PKB4413D comes in the industry-standard eighth-brick format, measuring 58.4 x 22.7 x 13.2mm (2.30 x 0.89 x 0.52 inches). Providing 1500V(dc) I/O isolation, the module also integrates a number of I/O protection and operational features, including: monotonic start-up and remote control as well as input under-voltage shutdown, output over-voltage, over-temperature and output short-circuit protection. The device meets the safety requirements of IEC/EN/UL60950-1 and has a calculated MTBF of 8.5 million hours. 

“Targeting customers looking for high power capabilities in telecom, networking and industrial applications, the new 450W PKB4413D is the second in a new series of high-power advanced intermediate bus converters,” said Martin Hägerdal, Head of Ericsson Power Modules. “The module builds upon the company’s HRR topology to offer high power and current handling, together with high efficiency, tightly regulated voltage capabilities and best-in-class thermal handling.”

The PKB4413D has been designed and manufactured by Ericsson to meet the highest standards available for DC/DC power converters in the industry, delivering the levels of quality and confidence that are required by power system designers to develop long-term and high-performance platforms.

The PKB4413D is priced at $39.00 in OEM quantities of 1,000+.