Vicor PowerBlog

Video: Cool-Power ZVS DC-DC High Density Converter Modules

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:22 +0000

Vicor’s new Cool-Power DC-DC converters utilize an advanced Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) architecture and high-performance planar magnetics to enable IC-like density and greater PCB layout flexibility in space-constrained environments. The high-switching frequency (900 kHz) of series converters reduces input filter and output capacitance requirements, drastically reducing space requirements. When paired with Picor QuietPower® EMI filters – at less than 25% the size of competing offerings – designers are afforded an end-to-end isolated DC-DC conversion and EMI filtering solution that’s unrivaled in density optimization. To find out more watch the latest video from Robert Gendron, Vice President, Picor Semiconductor Power Solutions.

Vicor continues to expand its investment in India

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:54:37 +0000

With the current dramatic growth in the Indian electronics industry many companies are looking to get a foothold here, including Vicor, as outlined in Cliff Keys’ recent post about investing in India. As part of Vicor’s strategy to serve the market, Vicor is continuing to build on its investment in India, with the opening of a new Bangalore-based Technical Support Centre. This will provide expert locally-based technical advice and support to customers. In addition, to further enhance customer service in this fast growing region, Vicor has now appointed CoreEL Technologies to support sales and to work closely with Vicor’s distributors in India. This will give Vicor greater access to the growing communications infrastructure market in India and give local companies access to Vicor’s products to help them achieve new levels of power system efficiency and density from AC to the point of load.

Back to Basics: What are Y-Capacitors?

Apps Support — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:12:42 +0000

What’s the background? When electronic equipment is connected to the AC mains, it has the potential to generate common-mode electrical noise. If this is allowed to flow back on to the mains supply line, it can disturb other equipment also connected to the same line. What’s the solution? Manufacturers design capacitor-based power line filtering into their systems to decouple any such common-mode noise produced by the equipment’s power supply, preventing it from reaching other equipment through the mains power line. The reliability of these capacitors is critical to the safety of the equipment’s users. When does capacitor reliability become critical to safety? Line filter capacitors are classified either as X-capacitors or Y-capacitors. X-capacitors are connected between line and neutral, to protect against differential mode interference. Their failure does not create conditions for dangerous electric shock, although it can create a fire risk. However Y-capacitors are designed to filter out common-mode noise, and are connected between line and chassis; if they short-circuit, they create a risk of shock to the user. How are Y-Capacitors designed and deployed to ensure safety? Y-capacitors are designed to enhanced electrical and mechanical reliability standards. Capacitance values are also limited to reduce the current passing through [...]

Vicor’s Converter housed in Package (ChiP) Technology

Cliff Keys (Electronics Journalist) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:30:07 +0000

Vicor has pioneered a breakthrough power component packaging platform – “Converter housed in Package” – or “ChiP” for short. Vicor‘s ChiP technology enables much smaller and more flexible component form factors, advancing power component design methodologies by simplifying design processes, and delivering power systems in a small form factor. Next generation components based on Vicor’s new ChiP packaging technology can provide a 4X increase in power density and 20% reduction in power loss, equipping customers to achieve previously unattainable system size, weight and power efficiency targets that enable breakthrough product performance. ChiP technology has already demonstrated power densities up to 3kW/in3, and up to 850/in2, at up to 98% efficiency. In time, ChiP technology will support even greater levels of performance. Individual converters are arrayed to utilize 100% of the PCB material, with no area lost to lead/pin attach. The wafer-like array is then sawn into individual ‘chip-scale’ components with no superfluous, non-value-added packaging, thus minimizing space used in customer designs. The initial lineup of Vicor components based on ChiP technology includes five different package sizes, with more on the way. As of now, ChiP technology supports packages as thin as 4.7mm in ChiP sizes ranging from 1323 to 6123 [...]

Webinar “Designing High Performance AC-DC Power Systems Using a Power Component Approach” to be broadcast live in French and Russian

Webmaster — Fri, 31 May 2013 09:12:31 +0000

Originally broadcast in March, we are running sessions of this popular webinar for French and Russian speakers next month. Modern power systems are complex and will often power many different loads in a single system. Each load rail will have its own unique voltage, current, and power quality requirement, necessitating different design approaches for different rails. In just half an hour attendees will be walked through a three-step approach (using power components) that simplifies the entire design process. When? French: Wednesday, 19 June Russian: Wednesday, 26 June The English rebroadcast version is also still available to view.

Article: Tap Online Design Tools To Improve Your Power Subsystem Designs

Webmaster — Fri, 31 May 2013 07:32:51 +0000

Historically, power components and their manufacturers competed largely on datasheet specifications and price. Power subsystem designs were mostly either discrete, one-off implementations that demanded substantial power-design expertise and effort or generic designs that supported rapid development but yielded less than optimal performance. Evolution in online design-support tools has broken this binary model and, in recent years, done so in ways that bring substantial value to system-design programs and mark an essential differentiator for power component providers. Read the full article, ‘Online Design Tools To Improve Your Power Subsystem Designs’ by Vicor’s Stephen Oliver, which appeared in ‘Electronic Design’ this month, to find out how vendor-provided online design tools allow engineers to start developing and evaluating designs quickly, gaining critical insights into design alternatives and engineering tradeoffs, even in advance of sampling major power components.

Demo of Complete AC to Point of Load Solution at PCIM

Webmaster — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:47:05 +0000

‘Power Systems Design’ recorded this video of Maurizio Salato, our director of power systems engineering, walking through a complete solution, from the AC to Point of Load. The video shows a working demo of the VI Brick AC Front End Module powering several Picor Cool-Power ZVS Buck Regulators to produce different DC rails. And it’s clear just how little space this solution takes up. Read the full article, Vicor describes their latest integrated VI Chip tech at PCIM 2013, on the Power Systems Design website.

Control of a Discontinuous-Conduction-Mode ZVS Buck-Boost Topology for Microprocessor Core Power

Webmaster — Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:43 +0000

At PCIM Europe 2013, Vicor presented a paper exploring the potential for gains in efficiency, power density, and performance when using discontinuous-conduction-mode (DCM) Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) buck-boost topology and its use in providing microprocessor core power. In this paper, the authors navigate the design challenges encountered in implementing such a voltage regulation scheme that are not seen in the traditional continuous-conduction-mode multiphase buck topology. The model of the plant is analyzed and a control methodology is proposed. Experimental results successfully validate the performance to the Intel VR12 specification. To receive a copy of this paper, please fill in your details in the registration form below: Other Presentation Paper Given at PCIM 2013 Controlled-Bus Architecture with Voltage Equalization: a System Approach to Higher Efficiency in Low Voltage DC Distribution

Technical Seminars in India: Developing Power Systems from AC to the Point of Load

Webmaster — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:33:34 +0000

Vicor will be holding technical seminars in Bangalore and Hyderabad. At these half-day sessions attendees will learn about power system design techniques to enhance the performance of every stage of the power chain, from the power source all the way to the point of load. Each of the four topics covered will focus on giving designers new ideas, tools and techniques to help them meet the power demands of today’s systems – providing more functionality, in less space, while improving the overall system efficiency. To find out more and to sign up for a seminar near you now Tuesday, 11 June 2013 – Bangalore Hyatt Hotel Thursday, 13 June 2013 – Hyderabad Hyatt Hotel The seminars will start at 09:30 and finish at around 12:30. A buffet lunch will be served after the presentations. Related links: Investing in India

Controlled-Bus Architecture with Voltage Equalization: a System Approach to Higher Efficiency in Low Voltage DC Distribution

Webmaster — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:11 +0000

At PCIM Europe 2013, Vicor presented a paper describing how “Central Offices” for Telecommunications have been historically powered by a wide range, negative-referenced 48V distribution system. The need for simple, direct battery-power backup has been the main driver behind this choice, which is regulated by global organizations standards. The relative simplicity of this distribution scheme has an immediate implication: line-card and server power systems need to accommodate for the wide input voltage range, which implies reducing both distribution and power conversion efficiency. As power levels increase, system designers are challenged to thermally manage more and more power. This paper describes an architectural approach (enabled by a particular converter configuration called “equalizer”), which not only increases the overall power system efficiency but also reduces the losses on line cards and servers. To receive a copy of this paper, please fill in your details in the registration form below: Other Presentation Paper Given at PCIM 2013 Control of a Discontinuous-Conduction-Mode ZVS Buck-Boost Topology for Microprocessor Core Power