Multiphase chipset creates scalable CPU power architecture

Multiphase chipset creates
scalable CPU power architecture

The increasingly complex power requirements of today's�and future�CPUs are placing ever greater demands on power management solutions and their scalability. However, current architectures are limited in the number of phases they can drive, as well as in their flexibility.

By enabling a designer to add or drop phases at will, the XPhase multiphase chipset for interleaved buck dc/dc converters (see Electronic Products , May 2003, p. 60) provides the scalability needed to accommodate the constant changes in advanced CPU power requirements. The Xphase chipset consists of the IR3081 control IC, which communicates via a five-wire bus with up to 16 IR3086 phase ICs, one per phase desired.

The chipset meets or exceeds VRM and VRD/EVRD 10.0 requirements, and a braking control feature significantly improves efficiency and transient response time. To ensure accurate current sharing, the XPhase architecture implements inductor current sensing with support for 100% duty cycle and overlapping phases.

Both parts are housed in MLPQ packages. (IR3081, $1.65 ea/10,000; IR3086, $1.25 ea/10,000�available now.)

International Rectifier
El Segundo, CA
Joe Engle  310-252-7019
Fax  310-252-7100

http://www.irf.com