Ericsson Adds DC-DC Converters to Raise Power Levels in RFPA Applications

Ericsson Power Modules announced that it is bringing higher power to its PKJ 4000 series of dc-dc converters. The company’s PKJ 4316 API is rated at a high 350W. The fully featured converter is claimed to offer designers high quality and a cost-effective solution for demanding RFPA applications.

In total, three new converters have been added to the PKJ 4000 range. The aforementioned 350W unit rated at 48Vin/28.2V/12.4A is joined by the PKJ 4316 P rated at 48Vin/28.2V/11A 310Wout, and the PKJ 4216N PI that is rated at 48Vin/30.2V/8.3A 250Wout. Available in the industry-standard half-brick format, these units operate over an input voltage range of 35 to 75Vdc.

Factors driving demand for this type of product are the need for high power, high efficiency, good thermal performance, cost efficiency, and high reliability in RFPA (radio frequency power amplifier) applications. The units are RoHS compliant and are based on a mechanical design using metal to metal to attach the base plate, which the company claims gives high thermal conductivity, good electrical isolation and excellent mechanical strength. The converters feature the standard RFPA height of 12.7mm.

The fully featured converters include output over-voltage, input under-voltage, over-temperature, and output short-circuit protection, together with soft-start, remote sensing, remote control and output voltage adjust functions. Keeping radiated EMI to a minimum, the converters include a ground plane in the PCB area under the dc-dc converter. This approach returns switching noise to ground as directly as possible, with improvements to both emissions and susceptibility.

With 1500Vdc input-to-output isolation, the converters meet isolation requirements equivalent to basic insulation according to IEC/EN/UL60950; offering high reliability, they have a predicted MTBF (mean time between failure) of 3 million hours. The converters are designed according to mobile network RFPA requirements.