Hybrid digital power modules offer best-in-class power density

By Carolyn Mathas, contributing writer

Renesas Electronics Corp. unveiled a pair of encapsulated hybrid digital DC/DC PMBus power modules claiming highest power density and up to 95% peak efficiency. The 10-A ISL8280M  and 15-A ISL8282M  target point-of-load (POL) conversion in advanced FPGAs, DSPs, ASICs, and memory for servers, storage, optical networking, telecom, and space-constrained industrial applications. These complete single-channel, synchronous step-down regulated power supplies, operating over a 5-V to 16-V input voltage range, provide a power density of 115 mA/mm²  in a 12 × 11-mm package.

Renesas also announced two analog power modules, the ISL8210M  and ISL8212M , in pin-to-pin−compatible 12 × 11-mm packages with 10 A and 15 A of output current, respectively. Each of the hybrid digital and analog power modules integrates a PWM controller, MOSFETs, and inductor within a thermally optimized grid high density array (GHDA) encapsulated module. The GHDA module has a single-layer conductive package substrate that efficiently transfers heat from the module to the system board and, even in heavy-load conditions, dissipates heat without the need for airflow or heat sinks.

The hybrid digital power modules offer power density and efficiency not achievable with discrete components.

Features of the ISL828xM hybrid digital and ISL821xM analog modules include integrated low-dropout regulators (LDO)s for single-supply operation and the Renesas R4 high-speed control loop architecture with line voltage feed-forward. The combination delivers an ultra-fast load transient response and high noise immunity. The devices also feature 4.5-V to 16.5-V single rail input voltage and 0.5-V to 5-V output voltage, for a total of 256 output voltage options, seven switching frequency options, and comprehensive fault protection. In all cases, to complete the power supply, designers simply add input and output ceramic capacitors.

Key features:

• 4.5-V to 16.5-V single rail input voltage, and 0.5-V to 5-V output voltage settings
• ±1.5% output voltage accuracy over line, load, and temperature with remote sense
• 256 output voltage options configurable through a pin-strap resistor setting
• Hybrid digital modules are SMBus-/I² C-/PMBus v1.3-compatible up to 1.25 MHz
• Seven switching frequency options from 300 kHz to 1 MHz
• Selectable PFM/light-load efficiency mode
• Comprehensive fault protection with voltage, temperature, and current protections

The ISL828xM hybrid digital power modules and ISL821xM analog power modules are currently available from Renesas distributors worldwide. Pricing for the ISL8282M 15-A and ISL8280M 10-A modules, both with PMBus interface, is $13.73 and $10.63, respectively.

The analog modules, both without PMBus interface, are priced at $12.51 for the 15 A ISL8212M and $9.41 for the 10 A ISL8210M.

Click here  for additional information on Renesas’s power modules. Renesas also offers power design tools — PowerCompass  to help identify the right power modules and other parts and PowerNavigator , which works with PMBus.