New Industry Products

ABB’s 60A DC-DC Converter Features a Tiny 232-mm2 Footprint

April 27, 2021 by Gary Elinoff

The MicroDLynx ll accepts inputs from 7.5 to 14.4VDC and delivers a regulated output programmable over 0.5 to 2.0VDC

The UJT060 MicroDLynx II power module is the latest addition to ABB’s proven DLynx II family of non-isolated DC-DC converters. Capable of delivering the precision power required by AI processors and high-current FPGAs, the unit also achieves 88% power efficiency when supplying 1 volt from a 12 volt source.


The UJT060A0X43-SRPZ. Image courtesy of the Datasheet
The UJT060A0X43-SRPZ. Image courtesy of the Datasheet


 

Every Square Millimeter is Precious in Today’s Space Constrained World

Requiring only 232 mm2 of board space, the compact new device provides the precision power demanded by today’s extremely space-constrained IT equipment in the smallest package.

As per Vesa Jokitulppo, senior product manager at ABB Power Conversion. “When you look at the sheer computing power required in today’s data-intensive applications – from cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G, to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and high-speed networking – every square millimeter of board space that can be utilized for processing power is precious.” 

 

Power Concerns

If design considerations change and more output current is required, it is easily possible to link the converters in parallel configurations of up to four units to achieve a maximum combined output current of 240 amps. 

No load input current depends on the output voltage chosen. At 0.5 and 2.0 VDC, those currents are spec’d at 80 and 100 mA, respectively.

 

Output Voltage

The output voltage of the UJT060A0X43-SRPZ MicroDLynx II power module can be programmed over its 0.5 to 2.0 range via external resistors or through a PMBus command. Output voltage regulation is to within 0.15% of the set voltage.

 

Protections

The units feature overvoltage and under-voltage protections. The is also protection against over-temperature and under-temperature. Over-current protection is provided on a cycle-by-cycle basis.

 

Black Box Fault Recording

Controlled by the PMBus (Rev 1.3), the UJT060 affects a “black box”  to store the results of fault detections, a capability useful for advanced diagnostics. PMBus commands can be set to record and store a wide range of parameters. These directives can control how many “snapshots” of parameters will be taken as well as when they are taken. They can also direct which specific snapshot is to be retrieved from internal memory. 

 

Qualified to IPC9592

The MicroDLynx devices are fully tested and qualified as per IPC9592, a standard defining the “Requirements for Power Conversion Devices for the Computer and Telecommunications Industries”. This is a standard published by the IPC, The Global Association for Electronics Manufacturing. As per ABB, this will serve to “reduce application time-to-market and design risk while also improving field reliability.”

 

Digital Power Insight (DPI) ProGUI III

The Digital Power Insight (DPI) software suite enables users to communicate with ABB devices, such as the UJT060A0X43, via the PMBus interface without having to write any software. ProGUI III features a rich and easy-to-use GUI as well as a powerful command line interface with scripting support. 

 

Applications

The MicroDLynx ll is employed to produce precise high current, low voltage output rails which will find use in: 

  • Distributed power architectures
  • Industrial applications
  • Telecommunications
  • Servers
  • Networking 
  • Test and measurement
  • ASICs
  • High-performance processors
  • FPGAs
  • ARM processors
  • AI processors and applications

 

Physical

  • The unit operates over a -40 to 85°C temperature range

 

Environmental

  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH Compliant