Advanced Bus Converter with 96% Efficiency at 12Vout

Ericsson's newly-launched PKB4413DA is a low-profile, 408W dc-dc converter module, designed to provide point-of-load (POL) converters with tightly regulated 12V output at up to 34A. The module's five-pin, 1/8-brick footprint is compatible with the Distributed-power Open Standards Alliance's (DOSA) standard and has a full 36- to 75-Vdc telecom input range. This combination makes it well-suited for intermediate bus conversion in information and communication technologies (ICT) applications.

Designers who choose the PKB4413DA will benefit from Ericsson’s pioneering Hybrid Regulated Ratio (HRR) technology, which minimizes power losses while delivering high-power conversion from a wide range of input voltages. The module offers class-leading performance in thermally challenging situations. Efficiency can be up to 96% with a 48V input and 12V output at half-load. This means the PKB4413DA cuts energy and cooling costs considerably.

Ericsson’s module meets the deployment requirements for intermediate bus voltage and distributed power architectures, and is primarily aimed at high-performance, high-power use cases in industrial, networking, telecoms, servers and data storage equipment.

The HRR topology, found in the PKB4413DA, was first used in Ericsson’s premier quarter-brick PKM-NH family. Because the PKB4413DA responds well to load and line transients, this guarantees that output voltage remains stable, and won’t be affected by the voltage deviations that occur as a result of system bus power disturbances. For power system architects, this ensures intermediate bus voltage integrity remains within the required tolerance.

Thanks to its outstanding thermal performance, even in challenging conditions, the PKB4413DA reliably delivers higher usable power in environments with limited airflow or high ambient temperatures. Its tellurium copper pins give excellent thermal transport, while the module is connected to a coldplate or heatsink via a baseplate. The thermal path from the thermally critical components to the baseplate has been carefully designed, resulting in a flat thermal profile for the key elements, along with excellent heat transfer to the heatsink or baseplate.

The PKB4413DA comes in a standard eighth-brick format (58.4 x 22.7 x 13.2mm), is designed to be through-hole mounted and offers 1500Vdc I/O isolation. It also includes I/O protection and operational features, such as input under-voltage shutdown, monotonic start-up and remote control, as well as output over-voltage, over-temperature and output short-circuit protection. Its calculated MTBF is 8.5 million hours, and the module meets IEC/EN/UL60950-1 safety requirements.

Martin Hägerdal, Head of Ericsson Power Modules, said: “The 408W PKB4413DA delivers industry-leading efficiency and output power in an advanced intermediate bus converter. It’s ideal for customers who require an input range between 36V and 75V for high-power industrial, telecoms and networking uses.

“Using Ericsson’s HRR topology, the module delivers a blend of tightly regulated voltage capabilities, best-in-class thermal handling, high efficiency and high current and power handling,” concluded Hägerdal.