The first sealed 80A digital power module

CALPIAS, CA—September 15, 2015—Intersil Corporation, a leading provider of innovative power management and precision analog solutions, today announced the launch of the industry’s first 80A hermetically sealed digital DC The /DCPMBus power module, the ISL8273M, provides point-of-load (POL) conversion for advanced FPGAs, DSPs, ASICs, processors, and memory.

The ISL8273M is a complete step-down Regulated Power Supply that provides up to 80A of output current and supports industry-standard 5V or 12V input rails. The ability to combine the current sharing characteristics of up to four ISL8273M power modules allows Power Supply designers to design 320A solutions with output voltages as low as 0.6V.

With a size of only 18mm x 23mm, the ISL8273M power module offers the highest power density and performance in the industry, making it suitable for data center equipment and wireless communication infrastructure systems where space is becoming increasingly tight.

The ISL8273M digital power module utilizes the patented ChargeMode control architecture to provide best-in-class efficiency with peak efficiency of up to 94% and most conversions are more than 90% efficient. It also provides single-cycle fast transient response to load current steps common in FPGA and DSP processing power transients. The ISL8273M's uncompensated design allows the device to remain stable, independent of changes in the output capacitance due to temperature, variation, or aging, while eliminating the need for external discrete compensation networks.

The 80AISL8273M further opens up the gap with its competitors by providing twice the output current of competing digital power modules. Its proprietary High-Density Array (HDA) package provides unmatched electrical and thermal performance through a single layer of thermally conductive packaging substrate. This design reduces lead self-inductance and is primarily dissipated through the system board.

The ISL8273M is based on Intersil's market-proven, fourth-generation digital controller technology and is pin-for-pin compatible with the 50AISL8272M. It expands Intersil's existing family of 6A-50A digital power modules to enable customers to easily transition to higher current rails. These fully enclosed power modules are compatible with all industrial pick and place equipment for full-automatic manufacturing.

Mark Downing, senior vice president of Intersil Infrastructure and Industrial Power Products, said: "As advanced FPGAs and processors take up more PCB space and require higher input current levels from lower input voltages, for POL power converters The requirements are being pushed to the limit. The 80AISL8273M provides our customers with the power density they need, as well as excellent thermal and electrical performance, dynamic power optimization, and real-time system monitoring and control."

Through an interface that conforms to the PMBus protocol specification, the digital control technology of the ISL8273M module provides precise timing control, full telemetry, and system monitoring capabilities. The ISL8273M can also be started and run in pin-strap mode using six external resistors to set default configurations such as Vout, soft start, undervoltage, switching frequency, and current sharing. This helps design engineers power up the module during the development phase without using a PMBus and without any programming.

Major features and specifications

80A Digital Switch Mode Power Supply with Current Sharing, Multiphase, and Multi-module Support Up to 320A Power Rail

4.5V-14V Wide Input Voltage Range and 0.6V-2.5V Programmable Vout

Solutions that support PMBus communication for full system configuration, telemetry, and monitoring of all conversions and operating parameters

Up to 94% peak conversion efficiency, 1% output voltage accuracy

Single clock cycle transient response

Programmable Vout, Soft Start, Soft Stop, Timing Control, Headroom Control, and Undervoltage, Overvoltage, Undercurrent, Overcurrent, Undertemperature, and Overtemperature Protection

Monitor Vin, Vout, Iout, Temperature, Duty Cycle, Switching Frequency, Power Good, and Faults

Built-in non-volatile memory for saving module configuration parameters and fault logs

Compact, Thermally Enhanced High-Density Array (HAD) Package Helps Simplify Thermal Management, Solution Layout, and PCB Layout

PowerNavigatorGUI Helps Simplify Digital Power Design

Intersil's PowerNavigator GUI software simplifies configuration, verification, monitoring of all device parameters, and telemetry of the ISL8273M. The software makes it easy to change the features and functionality of digital power designs without writing any code.

Pricing and Availability

The ISL8273M is available now in a thermally enhanced 18mmx23mmx7.5mm HDA package. The ISL8273MEVAL1Z80A digital module evaluation board, which can help speed design-to-goods shipments, is also available.